PHotonics enhanced fAB LABS supporting the next revolution in digitization

Coordination and support action – 731610 Start date : 1th December 2016 Duration : 30 M Budget : 1.49M€

The concept of PHABLABS 4.0 is based on combining the world of photonics

with the growing creative ecosystem of existing Fab Labs.

Young minds: (age 10–14)

To stimulate interest in STEM and in a technical profession, with a special attention on achieving strong female engagement

Students: (age 15–18)

To encourage experimentation with photonics and grasp the strong enabling character of this technology in combination with other KETs (Manufacturing, Electronics, Advanced Materials )

Young professionals and technicians (age 18+)

To introduce them to specific aspects of photonics and trigger innovation in their products, with focus on technological possibilities and entrepreneurial opportunities

Photonics Workshops on 11 different topics

to understand and to master the enabling character of photonics and its many applications by making, within a very short timeframe, some fascinating component, system or piece of art based on the unique properties of light.

Photonics Challenger projects on 11 different topics

an eye-opener to discovering the wide range of potential applications with photonics technology to trigger the creativity of the participants in cross-KET applications and to stimulate innovation with young professionals.

Toolkits for photonics enhanced fablabs

durable low-cost Toolkits for Photonics-Enhanced Fab Labs to stimulate and inspire innovation with photonics technology and components .

Target groups

3 instruments 3 target groups

What? Who?

Example of Photonics Workshops for Fablabs PHOTONICS MEETS TEXTILES – BY VUB In this series of “Photonics Workshops”, the participants start from the principle of total internal reflection to guide light with waveguides or optical fibers towards other places. Since optical fiber can be made very small, it also offers the possibilities of integrating it into textiles to enhance the textile with illumination, and even advance towards smart textiles.

Level Outcome of the “Photonics workshops” Tools used

of the fab

labs

Photonics

Components

Basic The participants will enhance their cuddly toy, dinosaur or a

different object with light, using one light source and a

bundle of plastic optical fibers to guide the light to several

places on the object for illumination purposes.

sewing

machine

plastic optical

fibers, LED

Middle The participants will build lighting aspects into a glove.

They will learn how to integrate small LEDs and lasers, a

mini controller and a battery into a bracelet attached to the

glove. The light from the LEDs will be guided by small

optical fibers towards several parts in the glove.

Sewing

machine,

electronics

Optical fibers

Lens, LEDs,

lasers

Advanced The participants will make a smart backpack for a cyclist

which indicates with light which direction they will turn,

thus improving the safety for the cyclist. Therefore they

will apply the same principles learned in the previous level

but now also learn how to form controllable images with

the fibers and controlled light sources.

Sewing

machine,

Electronics

Optical fibers

LEDs

Examples of Photonics Challenger Projects

Collecting Solar Energy

LEDs and Light Sheet for Plants

Optical 3D printing of winning projects by

Photonics for fashion and design

Photonics plant doc

Linking Photonics Technology with the FABLABS innovation hubs

SME’s Start-ups

Entrepreneurs

Schools Young Minds

Students Universities

11 Photonics partners of Phablabs4.0 providing the content

Providing the photonics material kits for the Photonics workshops

WISE : Gender Action Plan for Fablabs

Fablab Innovation hubs

>300 Fablabs in EU in 2016 >1000 Fablabs in 2020

Makersfairs events to link to other fablabs and makerslabs

-Photonics Workshops -Photonics Challenger Projects -Photonics Toolkits

• Photonics components • 3D printers in

transparent material

Expected Impact of PHABLABS4.0 for Photonics Industry The “Photonics Workshops”, “Photonics Challenger Projects” and “Toolkits for Photonics enhanced Fab Labs”

developed by PHABLABS 4.0 will be rolled out to the large European network of Fab Labs, and Makerspaces in

general, and as such support hands-on learning to next-generation photonics innovators in a durable way.

IMPACT for the Photonics Industry:

• A larger skilled workforce thanks to PHABLABS 4.0

• A better Photonics skilled workforce

• Improved innovation capacity in photonics

• Short term : During the PHABLABS 4.0 project, the programme of activities will have direct impact on the

14 pilot Fab Labs and on the more than 3.000 participants of the photonics-directed activities in those

pilot Fab Labs. Thanks to the large spread and number of pilot Fab Labs in the project, this impact will be

Europe-wide. PHABLABS 4.0 will foster sustainable and cross-cutting interaction between research

institutes and Fab Labs by creating inspiring photonics activities for Fab Labs.

• Long term : In total at least 18.000 participants of the “Photonics Workshops” can be expected within

the first 3 years after the PHABLABS 4.0 project.