Making MadLab: A creative space for innovation and creating prototypes

Abstract

This paper presents Manchester Digital Laboratory (MadLab) as an "organization as prototype" in terms of its innovation; emphasizing its permeability to external collaboration and internal structure. We present the accumulation of experience and inspiration found in this organisational prototype as a significant development with as much social impact as any single processes of invention and innovation can become the basis for a sustainable organisation capable of creating value. In this manner we present MadLab as a prototype that is the product of the personal interests and motivations of the directors and their influences -including science fiction. While the directors did not consciously engage in Science Fiction Prototyping we present their actions, organisational structure and collaboration as a model for the realisation of organisational Science Fiction Prototyping. This empirical study focuses on MadLab; its short history, its people, its activities and the intersecting creative influences on the different groups that make up the organisation. The understanding gained of this organisational prototype is then considered within a more generalised view of organisation types and their potential to create value and achieve long-term viability.

A Hub-based University Innovation Model

“…Three (3) types of definitions exist for the concept of an innovation hub. The first is associated with regional innovation hubs (Florida, 1995) and is related to the integration of local and external allies who are interested in the development of the region, including the university, NGOs, businesses, and government; another definition of the concept is related to the understanding of the university as an innovation hub that integrates other agents under its leadership into the activities it carries out (Youtie & Shapira, 2008); a final definition of innovation hub is that of a small physical location with meeting spaces, technological support, and specific characteristics that promote social innovation (Toivonen & Friederici, 2015), technological entrepreneurship (InfoDev, 2014), business innovation (Bell, Fletcher, Greenhill, Griffiths, & McLean, 2014;Wire, York, & York, 2016) or the development of prototypes (Gascó, 2017).…”

Créer un fablab à l’université : enjeux humains et institutionnels

“…Si certaines contributions à la littérature sur les FabLabs ont pu s'attaquer à de « grandes questions » telles que la capacité de ces lieux à catalyser la prochaine révolution industrielle (Troxler, 2013)3, nous souhaitons de notre côté contribuer à la conceptualisation de cet objet d'étudepour lequel nous avons peu de reculen adoptant une approche centrée sur un cas d'étude spécifique, explorant un lieu auquel nous avons pu avoir accès comme utilisateurs aussi bien qu'enquêteurs, dans la lignée de travaux qui se sont développés au cours des dernières années. Par exemple, Frances Bell et ses collègues des universités de Salford et de Manchester se sont focalisés sur le développement du MadLab (Manchester Digital Laboratory) au Royaume-Uni, et ont observé comment des inspirations tirées de sources variées, telles que la littérature et les médias, ainsi que des idées et des compétences a priori disparates, qui proviennent à la fois des arts et des sciences, peuvent devenir la base d'une organisation durable, capable de créer de la valeur (Bell et al, 2014). Katja Fleischmann et ses collègues examinent comment le Vitruvius FabLab de l'Institut universitaire de Lisbonne a été le théâtre d'une série de projets d'amélioration d'un quartier de la ville de Lisbonne.…”

Researching the Emergence of 3D Printing, Makerspaces, Hackerspaces and FabLabs in the Global South: A Scoping Review and Research Agenda on Digital Innovation and Fabrication Networks

“… Share knowledge  Foster innovation and entrepreneurship  Build a network with and between professionals and firms (Vrgovic et al, 2012;Bell et al, 2014;Sanderson, 2015) …”