This year, the 13th International Fab Lab Meeting will be held in Santiago de Chile, and “Fabricating Society” will be its central topic. Chile has been classified as a prosperous country in development, but there are still many gaps in strategic dimensions that make the process of constructing a developed society challenging. Fab 13 Santiago 2017 has established three objectives: present successful projects that create high social impact, position Chile as a Global Hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, and reinforce Latin America as a region focused on social development. Some observations:
CITIES
Since the start of the second industrial revolution, our cities have externalized the production of products and goods decontextualizing creation and territory. It is estimated that by 2050, 75% of the world’s population will live in cities. Can cities return to producing their own objects and find solutions to their own needs?
HOUSING
There is a need to provide a solution to the housing problem that exists in Latin America. Housing for families at social risk is, for the most part, self-built and constructed on land that’s segregated from the city.
INNOVATION
Fab Labs are manufacturing platforms that allow conventional production schemes to be challenged. In this sense, Fab Labs can be a complement to the industry, which in turn can be strengthened by their capacity to produce innovative objects using digital language. In the same way, Fab Labs can also support entrepreneurs as they turn prototypes into products.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Chile is home to two of the most polluted cities in Latin America, Coyhaique and Santiago de Chile. However, Chile is a country rich in hydraulic, geothermic and solar energy, amongst others. So how can these resources be positively put to use to resolve direct needs concerning inhabitants?
EDUCATION
Fab Labs are learning environments in which anyone can manufacture (almost) anything. Empowering people to find their own solutions to challenges they have is achieved thanks to learning methods based on projects that are transferrable to children, students, professionals, entrepreneurs, senior citizens and people without formal education.
DECENTRALIZATION
Given Chile’s geographic extension and the gradual growth of each of its regions, Santiago, the capital, concentrates practically 40% of the total population. As this will be an event of tremendous public interest, on both a national and international level, and with the objective of amplifying the impact of this meeting, we have decided to extend its reach to the regions, creating the Off Lab, in which various members of Fab Labs’ world network will travel to some of the country’s regions to develop activities, workshops, talks and to participate in regional festivals.
Speakers and Activities focusing on “Fabricating Society” at Fab13 are being announced. More info at fab13.fabevent.org.
