Sustainability, Open Source, and Social Good: Bilbao Makers Are Agents of Change

Source: Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers

Europe is lit up with the flurry of Maker Faires sprinkled across it, each Faire both similar in some respects (for example, 3D printers are fairly ubiquitous) and also a unique reflection of the community it represents. Maker Faire Bilbao, one Spain’s two annual Faires (the other is Galicia), presents its sixth incarnation this weekend, October 26–28, at Espacio Open in Bilbao’s Old Cookie Factory.

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Last year’s Maker Faire Bilbao was a resounding success, drawing an estimated 12,000 attendees. New makers were definitely made there.

The positive reverberations of hosting and encouraging a community of makers have certainly been felt in the area over the past few years. Here’s what organizer Karim Asry shared:

This year, the European Commission has doubled its presence in Maker Faire Bilbao, as well as in many other Faires in the European Union. The project Distributed Design aims to help makers go maker pro in the EU market by showcasing them at events like Maker Faire, celebrating also Maker to Market Bootcamps to improve their soft skills to survive in the market jungle. There’s also Open Maker, who is financing open source prototypes having makers collaborate with companies. We’re participating in both projects.

Among the wide variety of the 60 exhibits and 100 programmed activities on tap for the weekend, a healthy percentage are concerned with making a positive contribution to society and the planet. Information sharing is also a priority. Here are a few that demand applause.