Athens Municipal Maker Space is a state-of-the-art open laboratory, equipped with innovative design and fabrication technologies, that actively works as an incubator and a facilitator for technological and social innovation in Athens. It supports a variety of activities that target: To reduce the digital gap between experts in the field and the wider public, as well as between men and women. To back-up and support an international movement for the introduction of design thinking in as many age groups and professional activities as possible, combined with digital literacy. · To strengthen the role of the municipality in the empowerment and capacity building of its public servants as well as of its citizens. · To offer opportunities for young professionals and start-ups to develop working prototypes. · To help cultivate relationships of mutual respect and eagerness to learn, to make and to change. · To vigorously promote the dissemination of knowledge by transforming it into a common good, open and accessible. In this context, the Athens Municipal Maker Space offers free access to advanced digital fabrication equipment and moreover it offers free, lifelong education programs on digital design and fabrication to help people from a variety of backgrounds to cultivate and enhance the necessary maker skills. The equipment list includes CO2 Laser Cutters, FDM and SLA 3D Printers, a Vinyl Cutter, a 3-axis CNC Router and assorted hand and power tools. Furthermore, the lab offers modern technological applications that go beyond the computer screen, such as robotic applications, haptic interfaces, interactive projections, virtual reality headsets, electronic invention tools and toys. It is currently operated by the TUC TIE Lab scientific team from the Technical University of Crete with the support of DAEM, the City of Athens IT Company.
