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Welcome to December'25 Edition of GIGinsights!
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December is here, bringing the perfect moment to reflect on 2025's incredible momentum! ✨
This month’s updates capture what truly powers our network: open-source solutions, peer learning across continents, and the strength of community-led action.
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From turning bicycles into citizen science tools that map air quality to exploring cooperative economies that redistribute power and resources, the GIG community has spent the year reimagining how we live (and breathe) when innovation meets collaboration.
We’ve continued to deepen our understanding of global community resilience - through circular practices, shared knowledge, and innovation that delivers real-world impact. Along the way, we’ve celebrated member-led initiatives like the Circular Material Valuer Curriculum and watched the LabStorm climate innovation lab travel across continents through trust and creativity. This year’s community calls have also brought together our community, exploring everything from climate-resilient hardware to fundraising strategies for grassroots innovation.
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As we close out the year, these highlights remind us that meaningful change happens when we collaborate openly and stay committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world. Thank you for being part of this journey—we look forward to an inspiring and impactful 2026!💡🌱
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General Updates From the GIG Community and Team Members 📰
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GIG at VULCA 2025
In November, we joined maker networks from across Europe at VULCA 2025, hosted by the Joint Research Center in Ispra, Italy—the third largest European Commission site. The seminar catalysed discussions on joint fundraising strategies, mapping initiatives, and strengthening cross-network collaboration. We also had the opportunity to present the make-a-thek project and share insights from the project's Bus Tour initiative.
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A big highlight was the "network-to-network" dialogue exploring how maker communities are adapting and reimagining their roles. We're bringing fresh perspectives back to our global community and looking forward to translating these connections into meaningful partnership.
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The Circular Valuer Curriculum is out!
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The Circular Material Valuer Curriculum created by GIG with support of the Hans Sauer Stiftung is now published in multiple open formats! It can be used as a foundation for educational initiatives interested in preparing communities and organisations to understand and act on the potential value of discarded and unused goods and materials.
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Anyone interested in the topic can access the Curriculum and a sample course programme based on it HERE. To learn more about how the project was developed as a citizen science initiative, check the project's documentation repository and the recording of a presentation during the OERcamp.global.
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Project Highlight: senseBox:bike
This December, we're highlighting the senseBox:bike project, a project that transforms everyday cyclists into citizen scientists. Created by re:edu in Münster, Germany with GIG member Artur Kim Shum on the team, this open-source device turns any bicycle into a rolling environmental observatory. Using 3D-printed housing and sensors, cyclists collect real-time data on air quality, road conditions, and vehicle distances. From students in Essen assessing school routes to municipalities in Münster tracking mobility patterns, senseBox:bike is empowering communities to generate the missing data cities need for safer, more sustainable urban planning.
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Community call recap: LabStorm from Brazil to the Philippines
In November's GIG community call, we followed the journey of LabStorm, a citizen innovation lab born in Brazil after devastating floods that has now inspired a grassroots replication in the Philippines. A big thank you to GIG members, Gabe Mercado, Victor Marinho, and Isac Filho for sharing this powerful journey!
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Key takeaways from this session include how Citizen innovation empowers those most affected to design the solutions they need and how LabStorm’s collaborative “Lightning Lab” model shows how simple structures can spark powerful, community-led prototypes. More importantly, its replication in Baguio proves how ideas can travel across continents through trust, creativity, and peer learning.
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Community call recap: P2P Financing & Cooperative Ecosystems
In a special joint community call co-hosted with Platform Coops Berlin, we explored peer-to-peer financing and cooperative ecosystems as alternatives to traditional economic models. A big thank you to Ella and Andreas from Platform Co-ops for guiding this inspiring discussion!
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Key takeaways include how cooperatives like those in Kerala, India; Mondragón, Spain; and Emilia-Romagna, Italy demonstrate collective ownership and decision-making in action, and how P2P financing tools such as ROSCAs and cooperative banks enable communities to mobilise resources independently.
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2025’s community calls in review!
This year's GIG Community Calls explored innovative solutions to global challenges, from open hardware for climate resilience in Indonesia to solar water filtration in Accra and LibreWater desalination in Greece and Iraq.
We also examined alternative economics, such as peer-to-peer financing and cooperative models, particularly important in today's unstable landscape. Hands-on workshops added learning: members sharpened fundraising skills with Georg Höhne and learned to frame challenges with Dhairya Pujara from Y-Center, New York. Lastly, our make-a-thek series celebrated sustainable fashion and traditional craft, connecting heritage practices with modern circular design approaches.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed, shared, and participated — your energy is what makes GIG a thriving, innovative community!
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Events:
Europe's biggest and most relaxed hacker party, net culture party and tech conference in Hamburg. This annual four-day conference on technology, society and utopia offers a huge playground for hacking, soldering, tinkering, educating, learning, partying and networking.
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Conference bringing together over 600 participants from politics, tech, and civil society, with over one hundred speakers addressing the most pressing challenges in democracy and digital governance.
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January 31 - February 1, 2026 – FOSDEM 2026 | Brussels, Belgium
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A free, two-day annual event in Brussels that promotes the use and development of free and open source software. Geared toward software developers, it provides a collaborative space for sharing ideas and networking with like-minded developers from across the globe.
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Global conference convened by UNESCO bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society, and industry to advance international digital platform governance, trust, and accountability within the “Internet for Trust” framework.
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Opportunities:
Call for talks, workshops, performances, art and exhibitions for Open Hardware Summit 2026 in Berlin, Germany.. Open to all topics in open source hardware including electronics, mechanics, digital fabrication, fashion technology, and IP law. Multiple submissions permitted. First-time speakers can request mentorship.
Deadline: December 21, 2025
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Call for talks, workshops, panels, and creative formats for Europe’s leading digital society festival in Berlin. Guided by this year’s motto “Never Gonna Give You Up,” re:publica 2026 explores solidarity, resilience, and responsibility in times of digital uncertainty.
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Deadline: January 15, 2026
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Open call for strategic litigation and pre-litigation research grants supporting digital rights and accountability across Europe, including privacy, freedom of information, and systemic impact cases. Applicants from any Council of Europe Member State are welcome.
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Deadline: February 17, 2026
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Support GIG 🎯
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We invite you to join us in driving innovation for social impact worldwide as a supporting member.
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Why Support GIG? 🤝
- Drive long-term growth and sustainability for a global network of innovators.
- Promote inclusive, sustainable innovation through knowledge exchange and learning.
- Advance open hardware research and distributed manufacturing.
- Strengthen grassroots climate resilience efforts worldwide.
Ways to Support 🌟
Here are the suggested annual contributions:
Small Organisations: €300
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For organisations with fewer than 50 employees or under €1 million budget
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Large Organisations: €3,000+
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For organisations with 50+ employees or €1 million+ budget
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Contribute now or contact us to learn how your support can help social innovators create lasting change in communities worldwide.
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👀 Stay tuned for more exciting updates next month! 💌
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