We are GIG
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The mathematics building of TU Berlin, May 23 and 24, 2026. A heat wave pushed temperatures to records, and inside the corridors of a concrete campus, several hundred people from dozens of countries gathered around circuit boards, knitting machines, flow batteries, and looms. For the first time in its history, the Open Hardware Summit came … Continue reading “Distributed Roots in Berlin: GIG at the Open Hardware Summit 2026”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
A sewing machine 300 metres from a refugee camp in northern Greece. A farmhouse in Alsace, dating from the end of the 17th century, with a bell that still calls people to communal dinner. A row of benches in Vilnius made from the demolished pillars of a Soviet-era trade union mansion. Three scenes, three countries, … Continue reading “Make-A-Thek Community Call: Crafting Connected Communities”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
Somewhere in a library in Punggol, Singapore, a machine the size of a small suitcase is pressing dots into a sheet of aluminium — dots that a blind person can read. The machine did not come from a manufacturer. It was built from 3D-printed parts, stepper motors, and a solenoid, following instructions available for free … Continue reading “From Bhutan to Singapore: spreading an open-source Braille printer across Southeast Asia and to the world”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The fashion industry has a waste problem. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is generated globally, while garment use has decreased by 36 percent since 2000, meaning clothes are being made faster and discarded sooner than ever before. Waste is built into the process from the start, where roughly 15% of fabric used … Continue reading “Local Hubs, Global Impact: The Blueprint for a Sustainable Fashion Revolution”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
Together with Fashion Revolution Germany and Circular Fashion Foundation Poland, GIG hosted a make-a-thek community call that brought together library practitioners and circular fashion advocates to explore how libraries can become meeting points that connect communities around advancing circular fashion. Our speakers included Ariane Piper (Fashion Revolution Germany e.V.) and Agata A. Zgliczynska (Fundacja Mody Cyrkularnej/ Fashion Revolution … Continue reading “Collective Movement & Community Participation in Fashion Revolution”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
Global Innovation Gathering and Fab City Foundation held a community call on January 21, 2026, focused on circularity in Asian textiles and fashion. The session was part of the make-a-thek project, funded by the European Horizon Europe programme. This project establishes maker spaces in libraries across Europe, connecting local initiatives to global sustainability goals and … Continue reading “Circularity in Asian Fashion and the future of the planet”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
On November 27, 2025, the Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) convened a call focused on peer-to-peer (P2P) financing and cooperative ecosystems. Innovators, activists, and practitioners examined alternative financial models, the role of cooperatives, and community-driven currencies. The aim of the session was to present alternative organizational models for grassroots organizations, especially those in the global south, … Continue reading “Peer-to-peer financing and cooperative ecosystems as drivers of community empowerment”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
Join us for an inspiring Community Call exploring peer-to-peer (P2P) financing and cooperative ecosystems. Discover how these models can empower grassroots innovation across the Global South and unlock sustainable growth for innovators worldwide. GIG will co-host this online session with Platform Coops eG, a pioneering German cooperative that champions digital, democratic, and community-led economic models. … Continue reading “Community Call: P2P Financing and Cooperative Ecosystems”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The OpenFlexure Project is an open-source initiative that provides high-precision mechanical positioning tools accessible to anyone with a 3D printer. It focuses on developing scientific hardware such as microscopes and micromanipulators, enabling low-cost, customisable solutions for research and education. The project includes designs like the OpenFlexure Microscope and various mechanical stages, all supported through community … Continue reading “OpenFlexure Microscope: A Distributed Model for Scientific Hardware Innovation”
Written by Ricardo Ruiz
The Global Innovation Gathering Community Call on Solarpunk Visions and Makerspaces unfolded as a continuation of a dialogue first ignited in Berlin earlier this year. The discussion revisited questions of visibility, imagination, and shared futures within the maker movement. Led by GIG member Paweł Ngei, the session examined how storytelling can function as a prototype for social and … Continue reading “Solarpunk Visions and Makerspaces: Prototyping Narratives of Collective Futures”
