From August 7 to 10, Eurasia Development Ltd, together with its intellectual partner RVC JSC, organized a workshop on fab lab management based on the unique experience of leading makerspace experts in China.

A 16-member delegation arrived in Shanghai to exchange experience, develop the management competencies of executives and managers of Russian resource centers, establish business contacts, and present Russian projects. Visits to the makerspaces included in the program were coordinated with and approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China.

Participants included Anna Bukhalo, member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Innovation and Technology Centers, makers and directors of Russia’s Youth Innovation Creativity Centers, as well as representatives of major Chinese makerspaces — XinCheJian, Mushroom Cloud, MOOCXING, Maker Collider, and Fly Skynet.

The workshop covered the optimization of resource center operations, including financial and personnel management; best practices in equipment management, including procurement, maintenance, and tooling selection; potential business models for resource centers, such as commercialization of developments, cooperation with technology companies, and development of educational programs; and the management and development of communities around resource centers, including attracting new participants.

The agenda also covered intellectual property management and external communications, including the publication of developments and exchange of best practices with other resource centers.

For example, Maker Collider presented its experience in establishing and developing makerspaces, providing hardware and tools, supporting the incubation and crowdfunding of individual maker projects, and connecting innovative projects with industrial enterprises.

The online education company MOOCXING, which combines science and technology innovation education with innovation incubation, presented its “Cradle of Innovation and Creativity” program. Its main objective is to foster a new generation in China with an innovative mindset.

Experts explained how the company seeks to challenge traditional approaches to children’s education. They believe that in the 21st century, every primary and secondary school student should have access to an open educational platform using online lessons that combine teacher instruction with practical activities.

Over the course of three days, participants became familiar with the infrastructure, operating models and success factors of Chinese technology platforms, exchanged ideas and actively discussed the country’s first makershop, and attended the official opening of the new Fablab 42 makerspace.