China is likely to draw a long-term route map for 3D printing technology to boost development for the emerging sector, a government official said on Wednesday.

The government encourages research and development investment in additive manufacturing technology, better known as 3D printing, according to Su Bo, vice-minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The ministry will also push to set up a national standard for the sector, said Su.

Stocks in the country's 3D printer makers surged after the ministry made the remarks.

On Wednesday morning, at least three companies, including Suzhou-based SVG Optronics Co Ltd and Guangzhou-based Epoxy Base Electronic Material Co Ltd, hit the 10 percent increase ceiling on Chinese stock markets.

3D printing is a technology of making solid objects by laying down successive layers of material. The technology is in huge demand in the manufacturing, designing and education industries.