Government has set aside R16 million to establish Fabrication Laboratories, popularly known as the “FabLabs” which offer powerful opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities.
To date, there are six of these computer labs or FabLabs in the Free State, Western Cape, North West and two in Gauteng, while the latest has been established in the Northern Cape.
Speaking at the official opening of the Northern Cape Fablab on Monday, Science and Technology Deputy Minister Derek Hanekom said FabLabs were hands-on laboratories with advanced desktop manufacturing equipment which allow for the building of “just about anything” from inexpensive and readily available materials.
“Skills include design, fabrication, testing and debugging, monitoring and analysis and documentation of the process,” he said, adding that they were the brainchild of the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Centre of Bits and Atoms.
There are currently eight FabLabs in various countries around the world such as India, Costa Rica and Ghana to developed nations such as Norway.
“The FabLab programme is a strategic intervention which provides appropriate skills development and infrastructure for entrepreneurs to develop new products that can be tested and modified in the market place according to customer needs,” said the minister.
With regard to the establishment of the Northern Cape Fablab, the minister said there was the potential for not only job creation but the development of competitive small enterprises, the provision of enabling infrastructure for innovators and most importantly skills development.
“Many of the young learners who have visited our FabLabs in the other four provinces have used the fabrication tools to develop many useful products.
“These include a community based alarm system to warn fellow neighbours in distress, the alarm also indicates their location to enable emergency services easy access. There was also a disposable and affordable thermometer which can be used by anyone at home and disposed of without the hazardous risk associated with mercury based thermometers.”
According to Minister Hanekom, the launch of these FabLabs across the country will put the country further along on the path towards achieving growth targets to accomplish the full impact of the infrastructure.
He said it was important to make communities aware of the support and services available at the FabLabs.
FabLabs are a state-of-the-art resource venue aimed at promoting cutting-edge design, product development and process technologies for crafters and designers.
They offer not only the technology, but there is staff assistance in the development of design ideas.
There is no fee to be able to use the FabLab which opens up numerous possibilities to crafters and innovative designers.
Source: Bua News
