Beginnings of Philippine FabLabs January 25, 2017 | Slingshot Maker Edition | Cebu City

* Planting ideas will foster critical thinking and will bring alternatives. Planting critical thinking will foster alternatives and will bring ideas.

FabLab: Beginnings

In his book entitled “Fab” Dr. Gershenfeld described the “How To Make Almost Anything” class phenomenon at MIT:

First Surprise:The overwhelming interest from students with very little technical experience.

Second Surprise:Students were motivated by the desire to make things they’d always wanted, but that did not exist.

Third Surprise:Starting out with skills more suited to arts and crafts than advanced engineering, students routinely and single-handedly managed to design and build complete functioning systems.

The learning process was driven by demand for, rather than supply of, knowledge…….

FabLab: Beginnings

The overwhelming response to the “How to Make Almost Anything” class led to the launch of a project to create field fablabs for exploring the implications and applications for personal fabrication in those parts of the planet that don’t get to MIT…..

FabLab: Beginnings

Starting in 2002, the first fablabs went to rural India, Costa Rica, northern Norway, inner-city Boston and Ghana

The response in the field was as immediate as it had been at MIT.

20161047 Fablabs in 101 Countries

The establishment of the first fablab in the Philippines was in response to a product development pain point

Yutaka Tokushima, JOCV Volunteer for DTI-Bohol (2012-2014) for Product Development was a designer for Toshiba Medical

The Case for Establishing FabLab Bohol

DTI-Bohol did not need much convincing…...but needed to resolve some major issues

Hurdle #1 : Sustainability Issues

• Sustainability of the facility was deemed a major concern

• DTI-Bohol thought that setting up the FabLab inside the Bohol Island State University would partly address this:

- Support coming from other Local and - Demand coming from BISU students National government entities

• DTI-Bohol was instrumental in convincing BISU to offer a course on Industrial Design and the fablab would be a relevant facility

Hurdle #2 : Fund Sourcing

• First Source: DOST-RVII

DOST R-VII RD Burt Llanto did not need much convincing ….. Immediately committed DOST-GIA funds of P1-M per year for 3 years.

Used his influence as a member of the BISU Board of Regents to convince BISU to support the project

• Second Source: JICA

Yutaka submits proposal and negotiates with JICA

• Third Source: BISU

BISU committed to provide and refurbish a space for the fablab

Fourth Source: DTI-SSF Funds

Late in 2013 SSF funds guidelines were changed…. This time to include State Universities!......It was only at this time that DTI-Bohol was able to commit fund support

Hurdle #3 : Getting the Project Approved

DTI (at the time) had no knowledge of digital fabrication much more a fabrication laboratory (fablab). DTI-Bohol had to build a strong case to get project support and have it approved.

Hurdle #4 : Procurement

A fablab is supposed to have standard equipment like a big CNC milling machine, a small CNC machine, vinyl printer, laser cutter, an electronics work bench and video conferencing capability. It was also decided that a 3D printer would be relevant. Eventually an embroidery machine was also added.

Specifications were determined and since equipment funds will be coming from several sources it was decided that JICA would fund the Shopbot (big CNC machine) and the Laser Cutter. DTI would fund the Print and Cut Machine, Electronics Workbench, 3D Printer, Video Conferencing equipment and Embroidery machine. DOST-VII funded the small CNC milling machine.

Hurdle #5 : Launch - FabLab Bohol

In 2014, President Aquino decided to do May1 (Labor Day) Events outside of Manila and Malacanang scouted for projects for the President to visit.

DTI proposed the launch of FabLab Bohol but since May 1 was also the Fiesta of Tagbilaran City, Malacanang approved a May 2 launch with the President attending.

FabLab Bohol was the first DTI SSF that was launched by a President.

The event and FabLab Bohol caught national attention

The rest is history…….. We now have about 12(?) DTI-funded Fablabs all over the country.

Hurdle #5 : Launch - FabLab Asia Network (FAN1)

• FabLab Asia Network (FAN) was also organized in Bohol during the occasion of the FabLab Bohol launch

• Since then…. FAN2 in Taiwan (2015) and FAN3 in India (Jan 2017)

Fablab BoholPSHS Quezon FablabFablab UP CebuFablab MindanaoFablab BicolFablab Ilocos

Fablab UP DilimanFablab SantiagoFablab ZamboangaFablab DavaoFablab MarikinaFablab ClarkFablab Bacolor

Fablab Bohol Fablab MarikinaFablab UP Cebu Fablab UP DilimanFablab Mindanao Fablab BicolFablab Ilocos Fablab SantiagoFablab Clark Fablab BacolorFablab PSHS Quezon

Hurdle #6 : Operationalization of FabLab Bohol and Beyond

• Learning/Understanding the FabLab Culture

• Staffing and Organizational Structure

• Sustainability Business Model (Usage Fees, etc)

• HR Capacity Development

• University Funding and Other Sources

• Getting Community Interest and Support

• Making the fablab relevant to local MSME Development

• Promoting a culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Establishment of Target/Accomplishment Metrics (from JICA Study)

Unfair Advantage:Support and Guidance from JOCV/JICA Volunteer Designers

Fund Support for Trainings and Product Development from DTI that boosted Community Engagement

FABLAB UP CEBU

• Existence of DTI-Funded (Public) and Private-Funded FabLabs/Makerspaces

• DTI-Funded fablabs in various stages of development

• Several academic institutions have some sort of makerspace

• Very little learning, sharing and networking among existing fablabs and makerspaces

• Community engagement might be a challenge to some

• Seriously need to grow a pool of HR skilled in digital design and fabrication

Where Are We Now?

Venue for networking, collaboration and partnership among Philippine Fablabs, Makerspaces and the Maker Community to Promote the

Growth of a stronger Innovation Ecosystem

Learn. Make. Share.

Thank You.

Maria Elena C. ArbonProvincial DirectorDTI-Cebu ProvinceCo-Founder, FabLab Bohol