GIG's mission is to empower global communities through digital innovation for sustainable development. We nurture a network of 200+ members across 50+ countries, fostering makerspaces and innovation hubs worldwide. Our vision is a world of equitable global cooperation, driven by local inclusive innovation, open knowledge sharing, and
South-South partnerships. GIG strives to harness technology's potential to address complex challenges, creating lasting impact
for communities globally.
How you can support
We invite you to drive global social impact innovation with us as a supporting Member:
- Organisations under 50 employees or a 1 million EUR budget can support at 300 EUR yearly.
- L arger organisations with over 50 employees or a 1 million EUR budget are invited to contribute 3000 EUR or more annually.
- Contact us to learn how your support can empower social innovators worldwide.
How we work
GIG connects makerspaces, hackerspaces, and innovation hubs worldwide, fostering global collaboration. Our diverse network engages in research and community-driven projects, focusing on climate resilience and inclusive development. By amplifying voices from the Global South, we empower communities to create locally-rooted, sustainable solutions. Our networked approach drives impactful knowledge sharing and innovation, accelerating the transition towards a future built on solidarity and sustainability.
Hear from our members
𝘎𝘐𝘎 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.
Jay Fajardo, Ideaspace Ventures
𝘎𝘐𝘎 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺... g𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭, 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.
Nidhi Mittal, Digitally speaking
𝘎𝘐𝘎 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩... 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.
Emilio Velis, Appropedia
Our focus areas
Educational Technology
Supporting crucial grassroots initiatives addressing limited education infrastructure, particularly in the Global South, we work together with members on education-focused open hardware projects, like robotics, STEM education, and tinkering in makerspaces.
Recognising the role of grassroots initiatives in combating climate change in the Global South, GIG collaborates with members on innovative climate resilience solutions. These include eco-focused makerspaces, nature-based prototypes, and more.
Our journey ahead
In 2025, GIG is set to amplify its global impact through our key initiatives. By fostering innovation at local and global levels, we're creating a more connected, resilient, and inclusive world.
GIG Week 2025
Bringing together social innovators from 20+ countries, our annual gathering, held alongside re:publica, accelerates global knowledge exchange by showcasing diverse, 'alternative' sustainability solutions. It also strengthens cross-cultural innovation networks, connecting our community with the wider innovation ecosystem.
GIG Regional Gatherings
These in-person gatherings aim to decentralise innovation across continents, deepen regional collaboration, and amplify underrepresented voices in innovation. By bringing our global network to local settings, we foster more inclusive and context-specific solutions.
Climate Resilience Labs
Harnessing the power of networks to tackle urgent environmental challenges, these labs will facilitate global exchanges among open innovator. By focusing on diverse, often underrepresented perspectives, we'll develop climate resilience solutions that have both local impact and global relevance.
Join us in shaping the future of social innovation.
We invite potential collaborators to partner with us to empower social innovators and makers worldwide. Together, we can foster innovation, tackle global challenges, and build a more resilient future.
Our team would love to provide insights into our upcoming initiatives and explore how your support can create lasting impact.
BENEFITS FOR SUPPORTERS:
- Meet The Members: Partake in our “Meet the Members” exchange and networking talks, and tap into our members' expertise.
- Community Talks: Participate in online thematic discussions, typically initiated when members express interest in a common topic.
- Newsletter: Get featured in the GIG newsletter upon joining GIG as a supporting member.
- Be Connected: Share partnership opportunities and expertise requests with the GIG community via our communication channels, and engage in innovative collaborations.
& more!
Join us in shaping the future of social innovation.
We invite potential collaborators to partner with us to empower innovators driving equitable education futures in the Global South.
Our team would love to explore how we can create lasting impact with you.
BENEFITS FOR SUPPORTERS:
- Meet The Members: Partake in our “Meet the Members” sessions, and tap into our members' expertise.
- Community Talks: Participate in online thematic discussions, typically initiated when members express interest in a common topic.
- Be Connected: Share partnership opportunities and expertise requests with the GIG community, and engage in innovative collaborations.
& more!
