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Welcome to January'26 Edition of GIGinsights!
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Hello World and happy 2026!
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This year is set to be a big year for GIG as we work against the odds to ensure the world moves toward openness and global collaboration. We're looking forward to sharing exciting news about initiatives launching in the coming months—but in this January edition, we're excited to highlight resources and opportunities connected to our make-a-thek project. This includes an interactive resource map bringing together over 300 open-source tools, platforms, and practices across makerspaces, circular fashion, and craft. We've also opened our call for collaborations for this year's activities, especially for our upcoming mobile makerspace bus tour!
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Additionally, 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of our global network becoming an officially registered charitable NGO! We're looking forward to celebrating this milestone in different formats, including a participatory review of our governance structure with our members.
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We wish all our readers a happy and healthy 2026! Let's start the year by making with purpose, openness, and care 🌍♻️
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General Updates From the GIG Community and Team Members 📰
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make-a-thek 2026 opportunities
Join us on the make-a-thek journey in 2026! We're inviting members of the GIG network, library communities, circularity practitioners, makers, educators, artists, and open-source innovators to contribute to activities beginning in the third quarter of 2026.
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The upcoming make-a-thek bus tour will travel across Central Europe, the Baltic States, Northern Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine. To make this journey a success, we are seeking contributions in three areas: inspirational open-source projects with shareable tutorials, local workshop hosts for the 2026 mobile makerspace bus tour, and local community organisers who can connect libraries, makers, and educators.
If this speaks to you, apply now! Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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make-a-thek interactive resource map
We're excited to share the make-a-thek resource mapping with you! This comprehensive overview features over 300 open-source tools, patterns, and platforms at the intersection of makerspaces, circular fashion, and craft.
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Whether you're a designer, crafter, librarian, or community organiser, you can use this mapping to discover, access, and combine resources that support sustainable production and circular design. Explore the mapping in two formats: browse the detailed PDF version or dive into the interactive visualised KUMU map.
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Events:
This six-day hybrid gathering features panel discussions on circular soil economies, multi-species custodianship, hydro soils, mycelial thinking, and ecological futurisms. Events will be streamed online.
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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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Organised by Berlin Global Village and GIG, this intimate breakfast event brings together organisations at the intersection of innovative technology and global justice to meet, connect, and explore new ways of working together on transformative initiatives.
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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:
This technical assistance programme supports high-potential climate businesses and projects in South Africa. The programme provides 4-6 months of capacity building, investor connections, and pitch opportunities. Open to projects in energy, transport, waste management, water, or sustainable agriculture sectors.
Deadline: February 6, 2026
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This initiative supports US-based climate resilience projects that address both climate adaptation and mitigation challenges. Projects must involve partnerships between climate adaptation practitioners, government entities, and community-based organisations.
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This 6-month fully funded program equips nature- and community-positive enterprises in Southeast Asia with the tools and strategy to scale their impact sustainably. The program provides tailored value-creation support, expert mentorship, peer learning, and impact-aligned financing.
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Deadline: January 31, 2026
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This fellowship programme supports individuals advancing internet health, digital rights, and AI accountability through two tracks for Embedded and Independent Fellows. Focus areas include protecting user privacy, auditing AI systems, building open infrastructure, and advancing digital rights.
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Deadline: January 30, 2026
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This fund supports projects contributing to an open, resilient, trustworthy, sustainable, and human-centered internet. The programme funds scalable open hardware, open software, open data, open standards, and open AI projects. .
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This programme supports civil society cooperation projects in the Nordic-Baltic region that advance sustainability, democratic development, innovation, and cultural exchange. Projects require partnerships of at least three organisations from Nordic countries, Baltic countries, Poland, Ukraine, or democratic partners in Belarus and Russia.
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Deadline: January 30, 2026
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This challenge seeks deep-tech solutions addressing decarbonisation and climate-induced extreme weather for tropical cities. The programme looks for scalable innovations in waste-to-resource, renewable energy, energy efficiency, heat mitigation, and nature-based solutions. Open globally to startups to pilot in Singapore.
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Deadline: February 9, 2026
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This non-profit global accelerator program supports early-stage climate tech innovators through a 5-month programme that provides hands-on support, mentorship, and a showcase at Climate Week NYC in September 2026. Open globally to innovators who can demonstrate how their solution helps New York State reach its climate goals.
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Deadline: February 20, 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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