Intel and RVC to study the prospects of technical creativity in America

St. Petersburg, June 17, 2015. – American Venture Company RVC and Intel Corporation will hold the first research on Digital Do-It-Yourself movement in America. The focus of the research is on the community of fans of making “smart” devices with their own hands and the ecosystem that has formed around them. Can international experience be applied to the American reality?? What are the particular features of the development of American DIY?? The organizers of this research and community representatives are sure that American ecosystem has a serious potential for development, but it needs strategic support and self-organization.

First conference of digital laboratories in America

Intel and RVC announced their cooperation at the first conference of American Open Digital Labs, held at the Technical Creativity Center of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The companies presented the preliminary data of the joint research – the review of the world practice and the primary analysis of the American ecosystem, made by Deloitte. The results of the project, which consists of several stages, will be presented in November of this year.

The first conference of digital laboratories organized by St. Petersburg Polytechnic University brought together 35 centers of youth innovation creativity from 15 American cities. Discussing the study’s interim findings with conference attendees was an important step in the research project and showed that ecosystem representatives share a common vision for the way forward, goals, challenges and open questions that require new formats of engagement.

The conference ended with the decision to create America’s first Association of Digital Labs. The establishment of Open Labs Association will allow to consolidate the design and methodological achievements of labs and lay the foundation for further development of Fablab institute in America. It is planned that the RVC, Skolkovo, Association of Innovative Regions of America, Intel and other leading American and international companies, which actively support the development and popularization of technical creativity in America, will become members of the Supervisory Board of the Association.

The modern IT industry is watching with interest the accelerating development of the DIY digital subculture. A preliminary study showed that there are some 3,500 active communities of invention and technical creativity, each with an average of 400 participants and producing from 20 to 30 products per year. The number of innovative production laboratories of Fab Lab* format in the world increased 3.5 times in 2013-2015 from 146 to 508 and continues to grow. The potential market volume in this area in 2015 will make up to $ 29 billion, according to various estimates, which explains the interest of large representatives of the IT industry in this area.

Communities of technical enthusiasts are supported by states seeking to achieve or maintain leadership in industry and technology. The US, China, UK, India, Pakistan, Brazil and other countries have developed strategies and targeted programs to provide financial and other support to innovators. In the U.S. alone, grants to tech enthusiasts total more than 2.5 billion. dollars. The Do-It-Yourself movement today is a promising market and a source of human capital, knowledge and competencies for the practical application of new technologies.

At present there are 18 Fab Labs and about 50 Youth Innovation Creativity Centers YICC in America that received government support. More than 40 business incubators and gas pedals are rapidly developing, and large American companies and funds provide financial, mentoring and expert support for technological startups.

America’s DIY community is still at an earlier stage of its development than similar subcultures in, for example, the UK or the US. At the same time, as noted above, the American ecosystem is interested in analyzing its current state, as well as finding ways to self-organize and ways for further development.

As noted by Intel, RVC and representatives of American CMITs, at the current stage it is critically important to draw the attention of the industry and the state to the key points of growth: training and attracting qualified professionals and mentors, providing access to modern equipment, popularization and information support of technical creativity, as well as development of a strategic approach to support technical creativity at the federal and regional levels – this task will be the key for the new Association. RVC and Intel will continue the research and hold a special ecosystem event at the end of the year, where community participants will discuss the results of the project, and progress in the key areas of interaction.