A national network at the heart of the culture of “doing things together”

Founded in 2015, RFFLabs is now the leading national network of Fab Labs and makerspaces. It brings together spaces for experimentation, learning, and citizen innovation where people come to prototype, create, repair, share, and pass on their knowledge. The network champions a vision: that of distributed, open, and accessible manufacturing, capable of meeting contemporary challenges.  

Its activities cover a broad spectrum:
– pooling of resources and tools,
– development of commons,
– support for members,
– representation of the maker movement,
– advocacy for more inclusive and sustainable innovation.

In a context of technological, social, environmental, and educational transitions, RFFLabs is becoming a key player in new forms of civic engagement. 

A partnership aligned with our Foundation’s commitment to supporting collaborative social models

Our support stems from an ambition: to foster the emergence of collaborative models that enable us to better address current challenges. Fab Labs, by their open and participatory nature, embody these spaces where concrete solutions to everyday challenges are created. 

It was therefore natural for us to want to support the “Emergency Commons” project, whose purpose is to provide operational tools to citizens facing future crises, and to transform these exceptional mobilizations into sustainable resources. 

The “Emergency Commons” project originated from the spontaneous surge of thousands of makers and FabLabs during the COVID-19 crisis: manufacturing visors, respirators, adapters, organizing solidarity workshops… An unprecedented mobilization, which demonstrated the capacity of makerspaces to become local hubs for mutual aid and citizen innovation. 

The project aims to sustain this momentum around three key areas:

Remember: Building a collective memory essential for better action in the future. Documenting, promoting, and sharing solutions created in response to emergencies: testimonials, objects, exhibitions, technical resources, etc.

Be ready: Making know-how accessible, shared, and operational. Collaboratively developing a maker first aid kit and an emergency games library so that each FabLab can become a local hub for resilience. 

Taking action: Training, raising awareness, and mobilizing communities through participatory workshops, a serious game, and a scientific conference bringing together experts, makers, and institutions.

We are proud to support RFFLabs through this project to produce shared resources and strengthen cooperation and resilience within local communities.