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Author: Geraldine de Bastion

Geraldine is a bilingual (en/de) political scientist with an intercultural background and experience working with activists, governments, startups and NGOs across the world. Her work focuses on digital transformation and international cooperation, innovation, and human rights. Geraldine co-founded Konnektiv in 2013, advising various organisations on digital transformation. Geraldine is also the founder of the Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), a network of grassroots innovators, social entrepreneurs, founders, and managers of makerspaces, hackerspaces, and innovation hubs. In 2018 she authored and moderated the Arte documentary “Digital Africa” which captures many of the innovators active in the GIG network. Since 2012, she has been part of the curatorial team for the re:publica, Europe’s largest conference on the topic of the Internet and society, and regularly organizes and curates events in the field of politics and digitization. In 2018 she organised the first re:publica in Accra, Ghana with over 2000 participants and over 260 speakers from across Africa. Geraldine has been a member of the BMBF Zukunftskreis since 2019. Furthermore, she has been named by the City of Berlin as a member of the City Lab Advisory Board and a member of the Smart City Strategy Advisory Board.
make-a-thek

From Industrial Memories to a Circular Future for Heritage Craft, Textile Production and Fashion Design

Written by Geraldine de Bastion

Reflections from the make-a-thek Central Eastern European Study Tour The EU-funded make-a-thek project integrates modular makerspaces into public libraries to promote circular approaches to fashion and craft. In June 2026, we conducted our first make-a-thek study tour through Germany, Czechia, and Poland to explore regional circularity practices and build long-term collaborations.  During this tour, we … Continue reading “From Industrial Memories to a Circular Future for Heritage Craft, Textile Production and Fashion Design”

AI

The Infrastructure of Power: Artificial Intelligence between Global Innovation & Structural Exploitation

Written by Geraldine de Bastion

This article was originally written in German by Geraldine de Bastion for the INKOTA Network on 4th March 2026. Read the original here. In the public eye, artificial intelligence (AI) is often portrayed as a technological marvel operating in an immaterial cloud, free from physical constraints. Yet the reality in Nairobi, Kenya paints a radically … Continue reading “The Infrastructure of Power: Artificial Intelligence between Global Innovation & Structural Exploitation”

Events

12th GIG Gathering Berlin – A Celebration of Global Cooperation and Sustainable Practices

Written by Geraldine de Bastion

We are looking forward to our 12th Global Innovation Gathering in Berlin. Through our long lasting partnership with re:publica GIG is inviting innovators from our network to Berlin. At re:publica GIG will be hosting the makerspace and related content like a repair café addressing global innovation and sustainability topics. In addition to GIGs presence at re:publica, … Continue reading “12th GIG Gathering Berlin – A Celebration of Global Cooperation and Sustainable Practices”