Over the past ten years, the Internet has revolutionised and democratised communications to a certain point. These powerful tools provided by ICT software and hardware are completely changing the way we make tangible and intangible goods. Now, the same thing is happening to manufacture as access to tools like 3D printers and laser cutters are increasing. As a result, these intangible goods or virtual bits which can be shared globally can be turned to physical objects or atoms which manifest themselves locally. This is making the interface between the virtual world and the physical world blur if not disappear. As a shorthand term, this transformation from bits to atoms is being called the Maker movement.

The overall objective of the MAKE-IT project is to understand the role of Collective Awareness Platforms (CAPs) in enabling the growth and governance of the Maker movement, particularly in relation to using and creating social innovations and achieving sustainability. The results of this research will help to understand the uses and impacts of CAPs in different contexts, as well as of the Maker movement itself.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 688241