There are a few different strategies.
Some of the big guys doing research and application are: HP, GE, BMW, Siemen’s even J&J.
Smaller companies you can go for the equipment or actual processing/manufacturing: Stratsys, DDD or 3D systems, Organovo (for medical tissue stuff), there are several others but those 3 I feel are at the top of the chain for smaller companies. Oh Protolabs also.
Thank you. I think taking a few grand or whatever you can handle and spreading it around would be the way to go.