FabLabNet: Central European network of innovative and creative labs

The story of the network started back in 2016 from the project FabLabNet, financed by the European program Interreg Central Europe, when nine Fab Labs from nine central European countries met in Vienna to tackle challenges that most labs in the region are facing: how to better engage local communities, how to connect closer to education, how to contribute to the business sector? In one word, how to be integrate into its local innovation ecosystem?

To address these three questions, they conducted researches, shared experiences and best practices, made connection out of their region to come out with three pilot activities. More than 600 participants from four countries brought their idea into a prototype thanks to the FabLabNet mentoring programs, more than 50 grass root innovators from five countries positioned their products on the market, supported by the FabLabNet coaching programs and more than 300 individuals from all ages, gender and background followed practical courses on new fabrication technologies. To support these actions, 5 Fabboxes -real Fab Lab in a box- were realized in 5 countries, enabling the consortium to reach the most remote area of Central Europe. At last,, the nine partners launched the European School of Makers, a joint curriculum composed by all selected courses proposed by each lab.

In spring 2019, FabLabNet: Central European network of innovative and creative labs, will be ready to welcome any labs from central Europe to join. The financial support of Interreg will come to its end, and the network will then fly from its own resources, capitalising the results of the project to go further with the activities implemented so far.
The network is an informal entity set up by its members, who share the values and agree to contribute to the mission and vision statement on a voluntary basis. It does not have a formal legal existence. There is no membership fee. Any organization from the region that agrees with the mission and vision statement of the network and meets the following criteria is welcome to join.
Each member of the network meets all of the following criteria:
● Has a space open to the public, or a specific category of people like students, elderly people, the unemployed, immigrants, members of business incubators, members of a co-working space, etc.
● Offers independent working time with techniques/machines for manufacturing
● Offers activities (workshops, training) related to manufacturing technologies (new tech and low tech),
● Promotes DIY and DIT cultures,
● Fosters interaction between creators, makers, engineers, artists, hobbyists, students, children and/or supports educational programs at a university or school.
● Is from Central Europe, which includes Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, parts of Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino Alto- Adige, Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Liguria) and parts of Germany (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin).
● Agrees to take responsibility within the network or to become actively involved in one of the network activities