Fab City project: A glance back at our consortium meeting

Many thanks to all partners and guests who attended the consortium meeting on November 14, 2024. After four years of intensive work and innovative developments, this was an opportunity to reflect on our joint progress and present the current status of the project. The day offered space for personal retrospectives, exciting interdisciplinary discussions and professional exchange in a pleasant cooperative atmosphere.

The morning began with an overview of the milestones achieved in the course of the project, as well as challenges and highlights. Afterwards, the OpenLab Story Panel with six participants from different fields provided an insight into the work of the OpenLabs. At lunchtime, the focus was on the research results, which inspired further discussions.

In the afternoon, breakout sessions provided space for targeted discussions on topics such as “Measuring impact – Fab City Fullstack Metrics”, “Open Labs – Research & Questions” and “Fab City Project Outlook 2025-26”. The day ended with an informal exchange that generated new ideas and motivated the participants to continue working towards common goals.

Four years of project work

The project “Fab City – Decentralized Digital Production for Urban Value Creation” started in January 2021 with the aim of developing ways for sustainable, urban production models. Innovative approaches were researched and practice-oriented solutions created.

Important steps forward have been achieved in collaboration with 29 cooperation partners:

10 PhD theses were initiated to expand the scientific basis.
94 publications document findings from research.
22 laboratories were set up and equipped.
17 prototypes demonstrate the possibilities of digital manufacturing.

Community involvement

A central component of the project was the involvement of the public. In over 154 workshops, which reached more than 2,300 participants, technologies such as 3D printers and CNC machines were presented, tried out, information on sustainable and local production was provided and discussions were encouraged.

The OpenLabs played a key role in this. The workshops provide space for experimentation and collaboration, both for individuals and for companies. Innovative prototypes and new approaches to local production were created here.

“Project newcomers”

In addition to professional achievements, we also focus on the personal stories of those involved. Over the past four years, we have not only been able to advance in our project, but also congratulate eight team members on the birth of a child.

Looking Ahead

We are looking forward to the “Fab City Hamburg Playbook”, which will be published in 2025 and will provide further insights and present concrete results. The research project is also in an international exchange with the global Fab City network, a movement for sustainable urban value creation.

Partners