Periodic Reporting for period 1 - mAkE (African European Maker Innovation Ecosystem)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-02-01 bis 2023-07-31
mAkE is a collaborative innovation action that promotes cooperation and strategic partnerships between digital innovation hubs (DIHs)/makerspaces in Africa and Europe. Its overall aim is to strengthen an EU-Africa innovation and start-up ecosystem by creating the necessary infrastructure for decentralised production and collaboration as well as shared policy frameworks and educational opportunities. mAkE is focusing on connecting DIHs/makerspaces, as they are important actors in local digital innovation ecosystems in both Europe and Africa, in particular with respect to digital, local manufacturing and innovation in product design and development, therefore complementing more software-oriented digitisation projects in Europe and Africa. In addition to developing common infrastructure and resources, mAkE organises capacity-building activities to equip African DIHs/makerspaces and their attached local SMEs and digital start-ups with the necessary skills to engage in innovation in hardware manufacturing, and offers incubation, mentoring and matching activities for makers and DIHs/makerspaces in Africa and Europe.
More specifically mAkE aims to achieve the following objectives, which are aligned with the tasks in specific workpackages:
Objective 1: Create new innovative ventures, sustainable open source business models and new funding models for EU-African joint digital hardware ventures
Objective 2: Improve links between public sector actors, policy makers and digital innovation actors in order to foster the development of an enabling environment for DIHs/makerspaces
Objective 3: Equip DIHs/makerspaces, by offering training and skill building, with the capacities needed to sustainably foster digital innovation and maintain an EU-Africa start-up ecosystem
Objective 4: Through introduction of open standards, enable decentralised, smart manufacturing to create new local value chains and business models, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem for digital innovation start-ups and SMEs at local, national and pan-African levels
Objective 5: Build the sustainability of digital innovation eco-systems, through generating evidence of mAkE’s impact and creating mutual relationships from the project’s onset
More specifically mAkE aims to achieve the following objectives, which are aligned with the tasks in specific workpackages:
Objective 1: Create new innovative ventures, sustainable open source business models and new funding models for EU-African joint digital hardware ventures
Objective 2: Improve links between public sector actors, policy makers and digital innovation actors in order to foster the development of an enabling environment for DIHs/makerspaces
Objective 3: Equip DIHs/makerspaces, by offering training and skill building, with the capacities needed to sustainably foster digital innovation and maintain an EU-Africa start-up ecosystem
Objective 4: Through introduction of open standards, enable decentralised, smart manufacturing to create new local value chains and business models, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem for digital innovation start-ups and SMEs at local, national and pan-African levels
Objective 5: Build the sustainability of digital innovation eco-systems, through generating evidence of mAkE’s impact and creating mutual relationships from the project’s onset
During the first reporting period, which has been identified of as the preparatory and mapping phase all WP were active in exploring the current maker landscape, in Africa and Europe, in terms of open business models, the role of makerspaces as innovation hubs and their policy advocacy, as well as the need for educational services, skills training, and knowledge exchange. First findings have been provided in current deliverables and on the projects communication channels and specific events.
The first period was also used to set up all the needed infrastructure and communication tools in order for the project to operate efficiently, within the consortium and with the external stakeholders.
After the initial exploration and mapping phase we have moved to the co-design phase, where more interaction with stakeholders has started. For the different tools and services developed within mAKE, such as the Open Catalogue of Business Models, the skills standard or the makerspace toolkit we interacted heavily with our stakeholders to create results that are useful for the community. We are now entering the phase of further testing and rollout.
We have communicated about our work in various international events and have grown our community by reaching over 73.000 individuals ofter the period of 18 months.
The first period was also used to set up all the needed infrastructure and communication tools in order for the project to operate efficiently, within the consortium and with the external stakeholders.
After the initial exploration and mapping phase we have moved to the co-design phase, where more interaction with stakeholders has started. For the different tools and services developed within mAKE, such as the Open Catalogue of Business Models, the skills standard or the makerspace toolkit we interacted heavily with our stakeholders to create results that are useful for the community. We are now entering the phase of further testing and rollout.
We have communicated about our work in various international events and have grown our community by reaching over 73.000 individuals ofter the period of 18 months.
The project is at the forefront of changing the global manufacturing paradigm, moving from centralised global production chains to a more sustainable local production. This vision is at the core of the project.
Local makerspaces and their networks are core spaces for innovations to take place. There are already good examples of how the maker movement can contribute to a more sustainable production, building on locally available resources, while having access to a global knowledge sharing system. In terms of future societal implications this means a greater support for local businesses. Our Open Catalogue for Business Models, which is currently being widely distributed, can provide an important source of inspiration and guidance.
In mAkE we are supporting and mentoring a number of maker-driven startups that show high potential for a sustainable business development. We have launched a makers in residency programme where promising young makers are going for an incubation to another makerspace and we are launching a investors match making as well as a found-to-founder match making. All these activities are highly promising to generate socio-economic impact in the long run.
Local makerspaces and their networks are core spaces for innovations to take place. There are already good examples of how the maker movement can contribute to a more sustainable production, building on locally available resources, while having access to a global knowledge sharing system. In terms of future societal implications this means a greater support for local businesses. Our Open Catalogue for Business Models, which is currently being widely distributed, can provide an important source of inspiration and guidance.
In mAkE we are supporting and mentoring a number of maker-driven startups that show high potential for a sustainable business development. We have launched a makers in residency programme where promising young makers are going for an incubation to another makerspace and we are launching a investors match making as well as a found-to-founder match making. All these activities are highly promising to generate socio-economic impact in the long run.