Open space

Also called an open innovation space, it is usually a shared physical environment geared with tools, materials and equipment that allows individuals to learn, share ideas and projects, brainstorm and collaborate on projects. Examples are: makerspace, fablab, hackerspace, etc.

Geared for innovation and prototyping, including some very small volume production (manufacturing and assembly). they also play the role of incubators of early stage ventures (startups).

Governance

The emphasis is put on transferring decision making to the users of the space. These spaces are called open because access to them has a very low barrier, usually open to the public. The norms and rules are designed to stimulate sharing of ideas and material resources among participants.

Grass roots open spaces

A grass roots open space is governed by participants, usually using a combination of democracy and meritocracy. The legal structure can be a non-profit organization or a coop. The space is member-supported. Some income can be generated through various services (events, workshops, technical services).

Institutional open spaces

As opposed to grass roots open spaces, which are initiated and maintained by individuals.

An institutional open space is controlled by the institution at the higher level, but small day-to-day decisions and programming of activities are differed to the users. The institution supports the space financially.

In recent years we have seen an increased adoption of the fablab and makerspace concept by colleges & universities and libraries. These are institutionally operated open spaces. The main purpose of such spaces is to provide a space for less structured extra curricula activities for students and to create opportunities (events) for learning and appropriating new technologies.

Institutional open spaces may be less open than grass roots open spaces.

Activities

Educational activities (workshops, hackathons) take place in open spaces. In the day-by-day activity there is a lot of peer learning.

Production

Usually makerspaces are equipped with prototyping equipment such as 3D printers, electronic equipment, laser cutters, CNCs, etc. One can also find an inventory of basic materials, usually left over from past projects. These spaces also offer desks for co-working, gathering/public spaces. Also usually provided is a good Internet connection.

Currently, there is not a lot of production going on in open spaces, but more capacity of production is built in. The question is how much production will leak out of the institutional space, into the crowd? See Sensorica's presentation Design global, manufacture local.

Hybrid models have been proposed by sensoricans in the past, for example with the FabIci project at Robco Inc. in Montreal, Canada, where a local manufacturing plant builds an adjacent makerspace, for example, for brewing innovation and for prototyping stuff. When projects mature, production moves into the plant. there is a symbiotic relationship between a traditional firm and the makerspace (a new organizational structure). R&D is expensive and risky for companies, might as well open up a little space and have the local community gather there, brainstorm and prototype for fun. The firm's engineers will only get paid to take a working prototype and turn it into a manufacturable product.

Types of open spaces

FabLab

• Culture: commons oriented
• Specialization: electronics and mechanical prototyping
• Typical tools and equipment: electronics (arduino boards, raspbery PI, soldering, PCB prototyping, power supplies, oscilloscopes), mechanics (3D printer, laser cutter, CNC).
• Access: monthly membership

Makerspace

• Culture: DIY, entrepreneurial
• Specialization: mechanical and electronics prototyping
• Typical tools and equipment: electronics (arduino boards, raspbery PI, soldering, PCB prototyping, power supplies, oscilloscopes), mechanics (3D printer, laser cutter, CNC).
• Access: monthly membership

Hackerspace

Culture: hero cult, hacker culture Specialization: software and electronics, crypto Typical tools and equipment: computers and servers, electronics (arduino boards, raspbery PI, soldering, PCB prototyping, power supplies, oscilloscopes). Access: monthly membership

Biohacking

• Culture: DIY, entrepreneurial
• Specialization: biology
• Typical tools and equipment: wet and grey labware and equipment (glassware, fermentation, bioreactor, centrifuge, microscope, ultrasound cleaner, balance, thermometer, etc.), computers.
• Access: monthly membership

TechShop

• Culture: entrepreneurial
• Specialization: mechanical and electronics prototyping
• Typical tools and equipment: electronics (arduino boards, raspbery PI, soldering, PCB prototyping, power supplies, oscilloscopes), mechanics (3D printer, laser cutter, CNC, welding, wood working).
• Access: pay-per-use, monthly membership

OVN lab

The Sensorica lab in Montreal is a different kind of open space. Sensorica adds more economic capabilities on top of the basic open space functionality. On top of that, The Sensorica Montreal lab nurtures collaborative entrepreneurship.