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Welcome to the First Edition of GIGinsights 2025! 🎉🌟
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As we step into 2025, we take a moment to reflect on the impactful progress made in 2024. This past year was a journey of collaboration, creativity, and progress within GIG. From advancing transformative projects to forging meaningful global partnerships, 2024 showcased the collective power of networks in addressing challenges and driving innovation.
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We’ve celebrated remarkable milestones: growing to over 200 members across 52 countries, successfully concluding impactful initiatives like mAkE, and securing funding for exciting new ventures like make-a-thek, set to begin next month. Our events showcased the transformative power of makerspaces, while we addressed critical challenges, explored emerging technologies, and strengthened solidarity across continents.
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This issue celebrates the highlights of 2024 and offers a glimpse into the incredible energy and vision driving GIG forward. As you read through, we hope you’ll feel inspired by the collective achievements of this unique global community.
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mAkE
The African-European Maker Innovation Ecosystem (mAkE), funded by Horizon 2020, bridged makerspaces and Digital Innovation Hubs across continents. With over 300 members, mAkE delivered resources like 5 mAkE Talks, 9 Knowledge Pill Webinars, and 28 embedded resources. The project culminated in 2024 with the mAkErverse Gathering in Cape Town showcasing the power of cross-continental collaborations.
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Algo:racism
A co-design lab with the University of Bristol, tackled algorithmic biases and their impact on marginalized communities. Workshops in late 2023 produced design briefings and benchmarks for video games and resources to raise awareness, resulting in shared documentation and a growing community combating digital discrimination.
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Tolocar
In 2024, Tolocar concluded with community calls showcasing its outcomes. This project connected Ukrainian makers with international collaborators from 18 countries to co-design open-hardware products, shared openly on Appropedia.
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LibreWater Pilot in Iraq
In collaboration with LibreWater Greece and ScienceCamp Iraq, this project advanced open-source hardware innovation to combat water scarcity. Supported by the Roddenberry Foundation, the solar desalination prototype Acraea was designed for local makerspaces and tested for real-world application in water-stressed areas.
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make-a-thek
Winning the Horizon Europe-funded project make-a-thek was a highlight of 2024. Launching next month, this initiative will transform libraries into makerspace hubs, combining heritage crafts and digital tools to promote sustainability and innovation.
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In 2024, GIG expanded partnerships initiated in 2023. Notably, GIG strengthened Berlin-based networks and contributed to city initiatives such as the Berlin Global Village for the first Berlin Global Hub Event, becoming part of the Berlin Sustainability Alliance and the GICA – Global Impact Capital Alliance. Additionally, GIG deepened its partnership with VULCA, a European makerspace network, through Hub residencies and with Fadia, GIG’s Community Lead, joining the Vulca Board to promote sustainable, community-driven innovation. We also hosted and collaborated on several initiatives to connect with Latin American GIG members.
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AI Uses Within the GIG Network
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GIG’s 2024 report for Brot für Die Welt highlighted AI projects addressing agriculture, education, health, and social justice. It detailed members' strategies, challenges, and successes, offering a roadmap for impactful AI integration across the GIG Community.
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In 2024, GIG actively participated in global and local events. GIGweek24 celebrated "The Power of Networks" through workshops and discussions on AI and grassroots innovation. GIG hosted the re:publica Makerspace in Berlin. At the Afrilabs Annual Gathering and mAkErverse in Cape Town, GIG led sessions on makerspaces, policy, and business models. Among the events team members joined in 2024, there is the annual VULCA Seminar, Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, FIRST Global event in Athens and the Conference on Future of Cities, addressing global city partnerships and climate justice.
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The GIG Community grew to 222 members across 52 countries in 2024. “Meet the Members” calls and WhatsApp Focus Groups fostered connections, while the development of an onboarding toolkit ensured new members were welcomed effectively. The AI Series Community Calls and Gaza Support Sessions further demonstrated GIG’s commitment to collaboration and solidarity.
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Thank You, 2024 Interns 🙌
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A heartfelt thank you to our 2024 interns—Rania, Winnie, Alyssa, and Binling—whose creativity and dedication enriched GIG’s initiatives this year. Your contributions have left a lasting impact!
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There is now an open spot for an internship. This is a great opportunity to support GIG and learn about global collaboration. Interested candidates can apply through [email protected].
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Thank you to our Funders 🌍
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We are deeply grateful to the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for supporting transformative projects like mAkE and the upcoming make-a-thek. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and GIZ for supporting GIG’s Tolocar activities. Thanks to the Roddenberry Foundation for enabling the LibreWater Pilot, and to Foundation Nord-Süd-Brücken for supporting SCoPE WoeLab. We also extend our appreciation to the University of Bristol for partnering with us on Algo:racism, to Bread for the World for working together on AI Uses Within the GIG Network Report, and to the City of Berlin’s LEZ programme, the Brazilian Embassy, Hubiquitous and re:publica for funding GIGweek24. Your belief in our mission has fueled innovation and global impact.
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Events and Opportunities 🎯
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23rd January 2025 - MOOC Webinar: Unlock Your Makerspace’s Potential | Online
Are you a makerspace leader or interested in makerspace ecosystems? Join us on to explore new online courses from the mAkE - African European Maker Innovation Ecosystem. Learn how to influence policy, build sustainable models, and create new ventures.
Time: 13:00 (English session) / 14:30 (French session) - CET
Cost: Free
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26th-28th May 2025 – re:publica 25: Generation XYZ | Berlin, Germany
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Next year’s festival for the digital society will focus on the theme “Generation XYZ”. The program will explore key topics related to the internet, its communities, and the opportunities and challenges of digitalization.
Read more
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4th - 11th July 2025 - FAB25 | Brno and Prague, Czechia
This year, the world’s largest digital fabrication event will bring local and global innovators to the Czech Republic. The Fab Conference will feature keynote speeches, workshops, TEDx-style talks, and curated sessions designed to inspire and connect participants, all shaped by insights from over 50 European FabLabs and initiatives.
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Urban95 Academy: Open for Application
A fully-funded program for municipal leaders to create better cities for babies and toddlers.
Deadline: January 20
Learn more
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NTU International A/S: Digital Sector Expert in Nigeria
Seeking experts to support the EU-funded Global Gateway Priorities project in Nigeria.
Deadline: January 20
Learn more
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Foundation Botnar: Call for Proposals
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Innovative projects leveraging digital technologies and AI from selected countries are invited to apply.
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FLOSS/fund: Funding for Free and Open Source Projects
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A global funding opportunity offering $1M per year for Free/Libre and Open Source Software projects.
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General Knowledge Spotlight 💡
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As we head into 2025, let's take a moment to look back at the events that have shaped 2024 Globally.
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Join us in empowering innovators and building a more inclusive, innovative future. Your support helps strengthen the Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) network, ensuring sustainability and fostering a global innovation ecosystem.
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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 🌟
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Individuals: Become a Supporting Member starting at 30 EUR per year, with higher contributions encouraged based on your means.
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Organizations: Suggested annual donations start at 300 EUR for smaller entities and 3000 EUR for larger organizations.
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👀 Stay tuned for more exciting updates next month! 💌
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