This research studies the case of Fablabs community helping the Italian industry in the process of innovation and growth. This case is representative of how entrepreneurs engage in Fablab digital fabrication technologies which allow to make almost anything and optimizing time and production cost. The number of entrepreneurs in Italy using Fablab services is exploding. However, while entrepreneurs in the main centers of innovation, such as Silicon Valley, have crucial social, cultural, economic, and material resources to build high-impact companies, these resources are often not present in moderate innovators countries. Those resources are defined as innovation infrastructures, stable and dependable resources necessary to systematically conduct technology innovation activities. Entrepreneurs in moderate innovators countries have a double challenge of excelling at their company, and using innovation infrastructures such as Fablabs. This research analyzes how Fablabs can facilitate the innovation activities of the Italian industries, reviewing the case of Fablabs who experience success in providing services to companies. To obtain useful data that match the research objectives, this study use a Focus group interview method. The questions are open-ended, which means that during the interviews, the actual questions may change according to the responses of the interviewees. I depended on triangulation as a means of ensuring construct validity. Data triangulation involves collecting data from interviews, observations, and document analysis. The findings will contribute to understanding the role that Fablabs play for the Italian industry, explaining how digital fabrication technologies can help Italian companies to be more competitive. Keywords: Fablab, Italian industry, MIT, Digital Fabrication, Neil Gershenfeld, case study, Silicon Valley.
This research studies the case of Fablabs community helping the Italian industry in the process of innovation and growth. This case is representative of how entrepreneurs engage in Fablab digital fabrication technologies which allow to make almost anything and optimizing time and production cost. The number of entrepreneurs in Italy using Fablab services is exploding. However, while entrepreneurs in the main centers of innovation, such as Silicon Valley, have crucial social, cultural, economic, and material resources to build high-impact companies, these resources are often not present in moderate innovators countries. Those resources are defined as innovation infrastructures, stable and dependable resources necessary to systematically conduct technology innovation activities. Entrepreneurs in moderate innovators countries have a double challenge of excelling at their company, and using innovation infrastructures such as Fablabs. This research analyzes how Fablabs can facilitate the innovation activities of the Italian industries, reviewing the case of Fablabs who experience success in providing services to companies. To obtain useful data that match the research objectives, this study use a Focus group interview method. The questions are open-ended, which means that during the interviews, the actual questions may change according to the responses of the interviewees. I depended on triangulation as a means of ensuring construct validity. Data triangulation involves collecting data from interviews, observations, and document analysis. The findings will contribute to understanding the role that Fablabs play for the Italian industry, explaining how digital fabrication technologies can help Italian companies to be more competitive. Keywords: Fablab, Italian industry, MIT, Digital Fabrication, Neil Gershenfeld, case study, Silicon Valley.
Fablabs to transform the Italian Industry: The Case of the Fablabs Community
RUBERTO, FRANCESCO
2017-01-30
Abstract
This research studies the case of Fablabs community helping the Italian industry in the process of innovation and growth. This case is representative of how entrepreneurs engage in Fablab digital fabrication technologies which allow to make almost anything and optimizing time and production cost. The number of entrepreneurs in Italy using Fablab services is exploding. However, while entrepreneurs in the main centers of innovation, such as Silicon Valley, have crucial social, cultural, economic, and material resources to build high-impact companies, these resources are often not present in moderate innovators countries. Those resources are defined as innovation infrastructures, stable and dependable resources necessary to systematically conduct technology innovation activities. Entrepreneurs in moderate innovators countries have a double challenge of excelling at their company, and using innovation infrastructures such as Fablabs. This research analyzes how Fablabs can facilitate the innovation activities of the Italian industries, reviewing the case of Fablabs who experience success in providing services to companies. To obtain useful data that match the research objectives, this study use a Focus group interview method. The questions are open-ended, which means that during the interviews, the actual questions may change according to the responses of the interviewees. I depended on triangulation as a means of ensuring construct validity. Data triangulation involves collecting data from interviews, observations, and document analysis. The findings will contribute to understanding the role that Fablabs play for the Italian industry, explaining how digital fabrication technologies can help Italian companies to be more competitive. Keywords: Fablab, Italian industry, MIT, Digital Fabrication, Neil Gershenfeld, case study, Silicon Valley.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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