A business model describes how an organization creates and captures value. Makers can develop business models around their creations. Fab labs allow access to tools for digital fabrication and invention, and can incubate commercial activities so long as they do not conflict with open access. Various business models are possible for fab labs including launching labs, education, incubation of entrepreneurial ventures, utilizing local infrastructure for products/services, and open manufacturing, customization, and prototyping.

1. Open, not for free: business models for makers

8. “A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value, in economic, social, cultural or other contexts”
A. Osterwalder

11. “No matter who you are,
most of the smartest people
work for someone else.”
Bill Joy, Sun Microsystems co-founder

12. “We connect a global community of designers, engineers, fabricators and enthusiasts to design, manufacture and market inspired vehicle solutions. “

13. «Car design is a precise technique.
Design has to be precise.
If you like it, there will be probably other people will like it!»
«Disegnare un’auto è una cosa difficilissima.
Le linee devono essere precise.
Ma se a te piace, probabilmente ci saranno altre persone che, come te, apprezzeranno quelle linee»

15. Una machina bela l’a pol anch ander pian.
Ma una machina brota l’e dimondi difizil ch’la vaga fort.
A beautiful car can be slow.
But an ugly car will hardly run fast…

17. R&D
Ent.
Cust.
Ent.
Start-up
Cust.
Gov.
Ent.
Cust.
R&D
Cust.
Start-up
Cust.
Start-up

19. Digital empowered craftsmen
Atoms are the new bits (C. Anderson)
Maker’s movement is based on re-use and sharing of projects and their results, creativity and innovation.

20. Open Hardware is “a term for tangible artifacts — machines, devices, or other physical things — whose design has been released to the public in such a way that anyone can make, modify, distribute, and use those things“

21. * Estimatesby Phil Torrone, designer at Adafruit industries.

22. R&D
Ent.
Cust.
Start-up
Cust.
Consumer that is also a producer or contributes to the production.
Consumers that love to get involved with, push, fund, and promote products and services before they are realized.
Platform to sell services*
Communication strategy
Community for
collaborative
Research**
Communication strategy*
*Clive Thompson on Wired, ** Chris Anderson, Makers

23. Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication

24. Business: commercial activities can be incubated in fab labs but they must not conflict with open access, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs, and networks that contribute to their success.*
Ownership. Designs and processes developed in fab labs can be protected and sold however an inventor chooses, but should remain available for individuals to use and learn from
*Fab Lab Charter: http://fab.cba.mit.edu/about/charter/

25. Background knowledge
access
Foreground knowledge
access
OK, for project activities
Royalty free
Royalty free
OK, for exploitation of own knowledge
Contractual agreement
Fair conditions
Project activity
Exploitation

26. The Enabler business model: launch and support existing labs.
The Education business model: experts in particular topics delivers training
The Incubator business model: provide infrastructure for entrepreneurs to turn their Fab Lab creations into sustainable businesses..
The Replicated / Network business model: provide a product, service or curriculum that operates by utilizing the infrastructure, staff and expertise of a local Fab Lab.

27. The local Manufacturing. Open and distribute manufacturing: open source projects manufactured by Fab labs
The Open customisation. Mass customisation project customised by Fab labs
The Open prototyping. Technical support for startups and product innovators

29. Chris Anderson
Makers: The New Industrial Revolution (2012)
Free (2010)
Simone Cicero
http://www.chefuturo.it/2014/08/fablab-e-cultura-open-source-cosi-le-citta-si-riprenderanno-la- produzione/ di Roberto cicero
Andrea Danielli
Http://www.chefuturo.it/2014/07/guida-al-successo-di-una-startup-hardware-tra-rischi-e-vantaggi- dellopen-source/
http://www.chefuturo.it/2014/05/perche-solo-un-coordinamento-tra-makers-artigiani-e-inventori- puo-far-grande-la-nuova-manifattura-italiana/
http://www.chefuturo.it/2014/02/3-modelli-di-business-per-mettere-i-fablab-al-centro-delleconomia/
Massimo Menichinelli
Business Models for Fab Labs, http://www.openp2pdesign.org/2011/fabbing/business-models-for- fab-labs/
Business Models for Open Hardware, http://www.openp2pdesign.org/2011/open-design/business- models-for-open-hardware/
Stefano Micelli
Futuro Artigiano (2011)

31. Open
Not for free