By establishing three ‘makerspaces’ – tool-making workshops that also provide training – PHYGITAL helped small businesses and hobbyists in Greece, Albania and Cyprus develop innovative solutions to local problems. The project fostered a collaborative culture in lesser-developed regions of the Balkan-Mediterranean area.
- 10 July 2020
"The project’s goal was to pilot the model of ‘design global, manufacture local’, hence addressing the needs of local communities by leveraging the global digital commons of knowledge. These networks could reinvigorate local communities and revitalise local economies in Europe.”
‘Open-source' resources that can be freely accessed by anyone, known as the digital commons, are gaining traction around the world. However, the concept is not as well known in rural or traditional communities which have less access to ICT infrastructure or collaborative spaces.
In Greece, the project focused on helping farmers and small-scale food producers. In Cyprus, PHYGITAL support the social arts, while activities in Albania promoted cultural heritage.
Community workshops to share ideas
The Tzoumakers space in Central Greece allows people to cooperatively design and manufacture implements for small-scale agriculture. The workshop is equipped with tools for cutting and processing iron and wood, microprocessors, 3D printers and scanners. Residents used the space to make a weather station, a vegetable harvester, a greenhouse, and a fruit press.
The Lakatamia makerspace, near Nicosia in Cyprus, was used to produce costumes, props and stage scenery. People using the facilities created five prototypes for free, open-source software and equipment. The manufacturing instructions for these prototypes are publicly available.
In Korytsa, Albania, university students collaborated with cultural tourism businesses. Participants gained new skills by using manufacturing technologies such as 3D printers and computer-guided machining tools, known as computerised numerical control.
Reaping the benefits together
These collaborative spaces catalysed innovation and entrepreneurship to address local challenges by harnessing research and knowledge. Training sessions and several seminars were organised as part of PHYGITAL’s research activities.
The project looked to set standards for makerspaces, as there are no established protocols or safety regulations for open-access manufacturing workshops.
The Tzoumakers community plans to establish a legal entity that will allow their space to operate for years to come and create sustainable livelihoods for its participants. Some of the tools created, such as a grinder for aromatic plants, have shown potential as a marketable product or service.
It is hoped that all three workshops will continue to empower more people to adopt sustainable production methods and develop local solutions that can be shared globally.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “PHYGITAL” is EUR 800 486, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 680 413 through the “Balkan-Mediterranean” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority "Entrepreneurship and Innovation".