News bulletin of the global working group “Fablabs and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
2459 fablabs - As of May 1, 2024, 2458 fablabs are registered worldwide in fablabs.io. The image above shows that number in a timeline (1 closed overnight apparently). The large increase in 2024 is due to a catch-up operation in the admission procedure, which has now been completed.
Fablab SDG Profiles - Of the 2458 registered fablabs, so far 475 (=19%) have a so-called SDG Profile. A Fablab SDG Profile is a fablab’s preferred selection of 2-4 SDGs (out of 17).
Data by continent - The SDG profiles of fablabs obviously vary considerably. In addition to similarities, there are also major differences per country and per continent. Above a current overview of the distribution per continent.
Global overview - We have updated our online interactive overview of all Fablab SDG Profiles (all Fab City members are also included in that overview). You can find it at https://bit.ly/fablist-sdgs
Fablab density - In the above mentioned overview, we also indicate the fablab density of each country. We use two criteria:
- a country has at least 1 fablab per million inhabitants
- a country has at least 1 fablab per 10,000 km2 of land area (100 x 100 km).
We indicate the fablab density with a fill color (see colophon above)
Fab All-in 2024 - During session 5 “Economic vitality”, we give an ultrashort presentation on “How to integrate the fablab network with the SDGs”. See our landing page at https://bit.ly/faballin-sdgs.
Fab Month 2024 - On April 22nd we had a full hour for an online interactive workshop on Fablabs and SDGs: from Awareness via Alignment to Accountability and Impact-by-Design. But even that was too short. We are experimenting now with converting the topic into an online course supported by a digital learning environment.
No SDG profile yet? We offer two ways to get a profile: To add your fab lab to the map you have two options:
- THE SOLID METHOD: organize a workshop with your staff and then send the SDG profile via our online form. See: Manual: How to align your Fab Lab / Makerspace with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Pieter van der Hijden et al. | PDF
- THE QUICK METHOD: skip the workshop for now, determine the SDG profile with your staff and submit the profile via our online form. See: Fab Lab SDG Profile Registration Form
Global Working Group “Fab Labs and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” -Pieter van der Hijden (coordinator) (The Netherlands & Suriname), Enrico Bassi (Italy), Vaneza Caycho Ñuflo (Peru), Nagwa ElNwishy (Egypt), Neville Govender (South Africa), Ted Hung (Taiwan), Arundhati Jadhav (India), Beno Juarez (Peru), Yogesh Kulkarni (India), Noksy Letsoalo (South Africa), Jean-Baptiste Natali (New Zealand), Mess Wright (USA) Contact: pvdh@sofos.nl