Lei Feng Fab Academy 2025

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Fab Ecosystem Lecture Notes ​

Course Overview ​

This lesson introduces the global Fab Lab network and its related ecosystem. Through presentations by multiple industry leaders, it shows how Fab Lab has evolved into a global innovation network, promoting distributed manufacturing, sustainable development, and community innovation through various projects. The course focuses on the main organizations and projects in the Fab ecosystem, including the Fab Foundation, Fab in a Box, Fab City, Internet of Production, Distributed Design, and several important community projects. These projects collectively form a global collaborative network dedicated to bringing digital manufacturing technologies to local communities, promoting sustainable development and innovation.

Detailed Course Content ​

I. Introduction to the Fab Foundation ​

1. Mission and Development of the Fab Foundation ​

  • Organizational Positioning:
    • Founded about 16 years ago, initially positioned as an upper-level organization managing Fab Labs
    • Transformed into a service organization supporting global Fab Labs, respecting the local needs of each lab
    • Promotes the combination of global connections and local actions
  • Team Composition:
    • Diverse international team, distributed across the United States and multiple countries globally
    • Team members focus on different directions such as education, organizational management, and lab installation training

2. Fab Academy and Educational Projects ​

  • Fab Academy of Almost Anything (A³):
    • Fab Academy: Digital manufacturing courses
    • Fabrick Academy: Fabric, fashion, and sustainable materials courses
    • Fab Learning Academy: Fab Lab application courses for educators
    • Fab ALEN: Focused on equity and equality
    • Fab Futures: Short-term courses on 21st-century career skills
    • Previously had Bio Academy (how to cultivate almost any species), now only offered by MIT
  • Educational Resource Platform:
    • ScopesDF: Platform where educators can upload and download educational content

3. Fab Lab Development Projects ​

  • Different Scales of Fab Labs:
    • Micro Lab: Entry-level
    • Standard Fab Lab: Standard configuration that can support Fab Academy courses
    • Super Lab: Advanced configuration, capable of manufacturing equipment for standard Fab Labs
  • Global Distribution:
    • Established various scales of Fab Labs in multiple countries worldwide
    • Particularly large numbers of mini Fab Labs in regions like India
  • Partners:
    • Collaboration with multiple equipment suppliers
    • Funding support from various organizations to establish labs in refugee camps, disaster areas, etc.

II. Fab in a Box Project ​

1. Project Vision ​

  • Accessibility Goals:
    • Lower the entry barrier for digital manufacturing
    • Provide low-cost, user-friendly Fab Lab solutions
    • Determine minimum viable product configuration
  • Standard Configuration:
    • Includes laser cutter, vinyl cutter, and 3D printer
    • Equipped with all necessary accessories and auxiliary equipment
    • Includes computer and all necessary software
    • Provides materials for course activities

2. Implementation Plan ​

  • Target Cost: $10,000 for the complete solution
  • Target Users:
    • Teachers and educators
    • Museums, libraries, and other informal learning spaces
    • Special environments such as refugee camps
  • Development Stages:
    • Prototype development completed
    • About to enter testing phase in multiple locations across the US
    • Planning to start accepting orders in the second half of 2025

III. Fab Lab Global Network Platform ​

1. FabLabs.io Platform ​

  • Function and Positioning:
    • Mapping system for the global Fab Lab ecosystem
    • Created by Barcelona Fab Lab in 2014
    • Serves as a reference standard for measuring the number of global Fab Labs
  • Network Scale:
    • Over 3,000 Fab Labs
    • Approximately 81,000 users
    • Employs about 5,000 people globally
    • Distributed across 162 countries
  • Regional Networks:
    • In addition to the main platform, there are multiple regional maps and networks
    • Each region forms its own Fab Lab cluster

2. Fab X Conference and Events ​

  • Global Annual Event:
    • The largest event in the Fab Lab community
    • Currently in its 21st edition
    • The first 20 editions attracted over 33,000 participants
  • Global Tour:
    • Held in different countries each year
    • Previously held in Lima, Japan, and many other locations
  • Organizational Structure:
    • Co-organized by the Fab Foundation, MIT Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), and local hosts
    • Fab Academy graduation ceremony is held here
  • Fab Month Activities:
    • Held every April
    • Attracted approximately 1,600 viewers in 2024
    • Discusses topics such as emerging technologies, circular manufacturing, and impact scaling

3. Fab25 Conference (Czech Republic 2025) ​

  • Theme and Venue:
    • Theme: "Bridge to Gap"
    • Held in two Czech cities: Brno and Prague
  • Event Features:
    • Expected to attract over 1,100 participants
    • Intensive 8-day schedule
    • Morning plenary sessions, afternoon hands-on workshops
    • Special train connecting the two cities (Maker Train)
    • In-depth 3D printing day in collaboration with Prusa
    • Czech Fab Festival public exhibition

IV. Fab City Global Initiative ​

1. History and Development ​

  • Theoretical Framework Phase (2011-2014):
    • Co-founded by Thomas Diaz, Neil Genshinbard, and the City of Barcelona
    • Aimed to extend the collaboration, community, and digital application concepts of the Fab Lab network to the city level
  • Expansion Phase (2014-2020):
    • Barcelona announced becoming the first Fab City
    • More cities, regions, and countries joined the network
    • Fab City Foundation established in 2018 as a facilitating body for the global initiative
  • Transformation Phase (2021-2025):
    • Increased network participation
    • Promoted community-driven initiatives
    • Strengthened communication and learning within the network

2. Organizational Structure and Influence ​

  • Three Pillars:
    • 54 entity members (cities, islands, countries, and regions)
    • 11 core members guiding the Fab City concept
    • Fab City Foundation supporting network communication and project promotion
  • 10th Anniversary Celebration:
    • 54 stakeholders participated
    • 17 city and regional representatives
    • 20 organizational representatives

3. Projects and Activities ​

  • Fab City Awards 2025:
    • Recognizes global sustainable projects
    • 19 submissions from 12 countries in 2024, with 4 winners
    • Offers financial rewards and Fab25 participation opportunities in 2025
  • Fab City Challenge:
    • Annual innovation challenge
    • Brings together international experts and community members to solve local problems
  • Distributed Innovation Design Mastery Project:
    • Trained over 20 global leaders
    • Supported more than 10 physical spaces for collaboration and prototyping
  • Other Projects:
    • PANS: Climate action project
    • Green Cities: Nature-based urban resilience solutions
    • Make a Tech: Promotes assessment-guided models and makerspaces for crafts and fashion
    • Daphne-Plas: Supports decentralized creative content distribution platforms

V. Internet of Production Alliance ​

1. Project Vision ​

  • Distributed and Networked Production:
    • Promotes open digital infrastructure for "mass distributed production"
    • Views makerspaces as hubs for distributed production
    • Aims to create a large network of small manufacturers that can compete with imported goods
  • Application Scenarios:
    • Distributes large orders across multiple local manufacturers
    • Very suitable for disaster relief and similar situations
    • Example: 200,000 items produced at 2,000 locations

2. Make Project Resources ​

  • Policy and Innovation:
    • Makerspace common policy agenda
    • European and African makerspace collaboration
  • Business Models:
    • 17 thoroughly researched makerspace business models
    • Entrepreneurship handbook for makerspace managers
  • Capacity Building:
    • Europe-Africa skills exchange residency program
    • Online course series (fundraising, business models, etc.)
    • Makerspace toolkit: Open-source creation guide
  • Technological Innovation:
    • Data standards and open protocols
    • Manufacturer skills certification system (Maker Passport)
    • Global machine equipment map
    • Distributed contract system

VI. Distributed Design Platform ​

1. Platform Goals and Activities ​

  • Building Bridges Between Designers and Manufacturers:
    • Founded in 2017, connecting designers and makers
    • Supporting emerging creative talents seeking alternatives to mass production
  • Support Methods:
    • Residency projects
    • Incubation projects
    • Training, boot camps
    • Exhibitions, challenges
    • Festivals and networking events
  • Network Scale:
    • Over 3,000 talents participated within three years
    • 26 countries involved
    • Funded by the European Commission

2. Core Projects ​

  • Distributed Design Award:
    • Showcases design approaches different from traditional design weeks
    • Emphasizes openness, regenerative practices, and distributed production
  • "Driving Design" Annual Publication:
    • Physical and online book
    • Explores how designers and makers can rethink production and design methods
  • Knowledge Base and Retrieval System:
    • learn.distributeddesign.eu platform
    • Integrates knowledge created by 22 partners
    • First version of retrieval and generation system

3. Success Stories ​

  • Domingo Clap Project:
    • Founded by Fab Academy alumni
    • Distributed Design Award winner
    • Creates fermented food tools (such as tempeh fermenters)
    • Participates in cross-European mobility programs
  • Batchworks Project:
    • Started from the 2018 Distributed Design Lab Challenge
    • Designed the Batchfield project during COVID-19
    • Now a company supporting distributed manufacturing

VII. Global Kids Project ​

1. Project History ​

  • From FabLab Kids to Global Kids:
    • Started in Latin America in 2014
    • Won awards with the MOS-ISHA Chair open source project
    • Expanded to the Global Kids worldwide project in 2019
  • Cultural Exchange at the Core:
    • Annual celebration activities
    • Uses digital manufacturing tools to create cultural designs
    • Adapts to different countries' traditions and celebrations

2. Global Coverage ​

  • Multi-country Cultural Experience:
    • Japan, Africa, Thailand, Bhutan, etc.
    • Showcased at the 2024 Fab conference in Mexico
    • Will be held in the Czech Republic in 2025
  • Project Characteristics:
    • Transforms traditional crafts into digital manufacturing
    • Adapts to different machines and materials at different Fab Labs
    • Multilingual content (including Arabic, Japanese, Thai, etc.)
    • Collaborates with various country embassies

3. Technology and Innovation ​

  • Cross-national Interactive Projects:
    • Bhutan Prayer Wheel: Made by 3D printer, connected via servo motors, can be controlled by children from other countries
    • Global Piñata: Uses artificial intelligence for remote interaction
  • Fab25 Event Plan:
    • Sets up camps for children of makers attending Fab25
    • Provides cultural learning and experience activities

VIII. Makers Asylum (India) ​

1. Development History ​

  • Space Development:
    • Started in a small garage in Mumbai in 2013
    • Changed 8 spaces in 11 years, now located in Goa state
    • Evolved from a DIY space to an education and innovation center
  • Project Types:
    • STG School: UN Sustainable Development Goals project
    • Social entrepreneurship credit program in collaboration with universities in the Indo-Pacific region
    • Focus on the intersection of inclusivity and innovation
  • Impact:
    • Alumni distributed across more than 40 countries
    • Supports over 40 hardware technology and design startups
    • Collaborates with UN agencies, youth groups, and large enterprises

2. Innovation Projects and Addressing Challenges ​

  • Pandemic Response:
    • Produced nearly 1 million face shields in 49 days
    • Developed oxygen concentrators and open-source medical products
  • Youth Programs:
    • Hybrid-mode projects for teenagers
    • Provides hardware equipment to homes, combined with on-site construction
    • Over 400 young talents from more than 50 cities in India and 15 countries
    • Over 50 OSHWA certified projects
  • Social Impact:
    • Helps economically disadvantaged groups through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding
    • Provides life skills and career exploration opportunities
    • Success story: Two 20-year-old students founded a drone startup, raising $2 million in funding

Assignment Requirements ​

  1. Research and Exploration:
    • Explore at least one Fab ecosystem project mentioned in the course
    • Understand the project's goals, impact, and participation methods
    • Analyze the potential connections between the project and your region/lab
  2. Documentation and Analysis:
    • Document your understanding and analysis of the selected project
    • Consider how to apply these ecosystem resources to your final project or future work
    • Consider how to expand the impact of your project through these networks
  3. Network Connection:
    • Try to establish contact with at least one ecosystem project of interest
    • Learn how to participate in global Fab network events (such as Fab25)
    • Consider how you can contribute to the Fab ecosystem in the future

Learning Resources ​

Organizations and Platforms ​

  1. Fab Foundation: https://fabfoundation.org
  2. Fab Lab Network:
  3. Fab City Global Initiative:
  4. Internet of Production Alliance:
  5. Distributed Design Platform:
  6. Global Kids:
    • Information available through Fab Foundation
  7. Makers Asylum (India):

Projects and Tools ​

  1. Fab in a Box:
    • Upcoming low-cost Fab Lab solution
  2. Maker Space Toolkit:
    • Available through the Internet of Production Alliance
  3. Distributed Design Resources:
    • Distributed Design annual book
    • Distributed Design Award case studies
  4. Business Model Resources:
    • Research on 17 makerspace business models
    • Entrepreneurship incubation handbook

By deeply understanding these resources and networks, students will be able to better grasp the breadth and depth of the Fab ecosystem and find connection points related to their own projects and interests, thereby finding their place in the global Fab community.