Rafael Calado
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Contact information
| Your profile name | Rafael Calado |
| City you are based in | Lisboa, Portugal |
Initiative
| Your Organisation or Initiative Name | BioLab Lisboa |
| Where is it located? | Portugal |
| About your organisation | BioLab Lisboa is Portugal’s first Citizen Lab dedicated to advancing the bioeconomy through community-driven innovation. We bring together biology, design, digital fabrication, art, and science to explore regenerative solutions that address environmental and social challenges. By connecting citizens, makers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public institutions, we create an open space for experimentation, learning, and collaboration. Our mission is to democratize access to bio-based knowledge and technologies while empowering communities to co-create sustainable solutions rooted in local needs. Through workshops, residencies, research, and international collaborations, BioLab Lisboa fosters a culture of openness, circularity, and regenerative innovation. As part of a growing global network of changemakers, we believe community science and shared knowledge are key to building resilient, inclusive, and bio-based futures. |
| URL |
One Project Showcase
| Name one of your projects to showcase | Sustainable Solutions: Biomaterials for Packaging |
| About the project | Sustainable Solutions: Biomaterials for Packaging Sustainable Solutions: Biomaterials for Packaging is an open, community-driven project developed at BioLab Lisboa to explore bio-based alternatives to conventional packaging materials. The project brings together students, makers, designers, researchers, and citizens to experiment with locally sourced biomaterials and develop biodegradable packaging solutions with a lower environmental footprint. Participants investigate materials such as bioplastics made from natural ingredients and food waste, alongside mycelium-based composites, exploring their potential for protective packaging and circular product design. The project combines hands-on experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and open knowledge sharing, encouraging participants from different backgrounds to co-create sustainable solutions. By connecting biology, design, and digital fabrication, the initiative demonstrates how citizen labs can support the transition towards a circular and regenerative bioeconomy while empowering communities to learn, experiment, and innovate together. |
Sharing
| Why are you a member of GIG? | "we are family" 🙂 |
