The context

New technologies have opened up the possibilities of more local, digital and circular production. They contribute to the manufacture of goods and services, coupled with a demand that is being disrupted by the rapid transformation of our lifestyles and growing environmental awareness. We are entering a transition to a new industrial cycle where the city can once again become a high-potential production area.

Fab City’s strategy is to create a new production ecosystem to act in the face of the growing impacts of globalization and offer citizens the means to innovate and produce locally, so that they are actively engaged in the transformation of their cities. Local governments and civic organizations, startups, universities and other organizations are called upon to work together to enable a cultural change that can strengthen the emancipation of cities and citizens.

The Fab City initiative emerges from and works in close proximity to the international Fab Labs network, a steadily growing ecosystem of more than 2,000 digital manufacturing labs in over 126 countries, studying the future of materials, citizenship, manufacturing and entrepreneurship. The global Fab City movement takes the ideals of the Fab Lab – connectivity, culture and creativity – and brings them to the scale of the city. It helps municipal leaders develop productive cities at the local level, working with local communities, businesses and institutions, revitalizing manufacturing infrastructure and stimulating a new economy.

Fab Lab innovations provide connected solutions to concrete city problems, opening up opportunities for business, research, education and territorial development.