The M-19 Initiative was an open-source, community-driven effort led by Maker’s Asylum during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focused on rapidly designing, prototyping, and manufacturing face shields (M-19 shields) to support frontline healthcare workers.
What made it unique was its distributed manufacturing model—instead of relying on a single production facility, Maker’s Asylum shared the design files openly, enabling makers, fab labs, and volunteers across India to produce shields locally using laser cutters.
The initiative mobilized over 200 makers and resulted in the production and distribution of over 1 million face shields across India, demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation and grassroots problem-solving in times of crisis.