OpenMaker · Project

A Digital Platform Connecting Manufacturers with Tech-Savvy Makers for Faster Product Innovation

manufacturingPilotedTRL 6Thin data (2/5)

Imagine traditional factory owners and independent tech-savvy craftspeople (the kind who build things in makerspaces with 3D printers and open-source tools) teaming up to create better products. OpenMaker built a digital matchmaking platform and ran real collaboration programmes in four European cities to make that happen. Think of it like a dating app for manufacturing — pairing big-company production know-how with grassroots maker creativity. The project also tracked how these partnerships actually work socially, so the methods can be reused elsewhere.

By the numbers

European pilot locations where the programme was tested

consortium partners involved

countries represented in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

SMEs in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Most manufacturers know they need to innovate faster but struggle to find creative talent and fresh ideas outside their own walls. Hiring full R&D teams is expensive, and traditional partnerships with universities move slowly. Meanwhile, a growing community of independent makers with digital fabrication skills and open-source mindsets sits just outside reach, with no easy way to connect and collaborate.

The solution

What was built

OpenMaker built a digital collaboration platform and a structured facilitation programme for connecting manufacturers with independent makers. The project produced 24 deliverables including documented winning prototyping projects from real maker-manufacturer partnerships across 4 European pilot locations.

Audience

Who needs this

Mid-size manufacturers wanting to tap into external maker communities for product innovationTechnology park and makerspace operators looking for proven manufacturer engagement modelsRegional development agencies promoting manufacturing innovation ecosystemsInnovation consultancies advising manufacturers on open collaboration strategiesIndustry clusters seeking structured methods to connect traditional firms with digital makers

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Consumer Products Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Mid-size manufacturers looking to accelerate product development through external maker communities

If you are a consumer goods manufacturer struggling to keep up with shorter product cycles and rising customer expectations — this project developed a tested collaboration programme and digital platform that connects your production teams directly with independent makers and designers. Piloted across 4 European locations with 11 partner organisations, the approach lets you tap into grassroots innovation without building an in-house R&D lab from scratch.

Industrial Innovation Services

any

Target: Technology parks, incubators, and maker-space operators wanting to attract manufacturing clients

If you run a technology park or makerspace and want to offer real value to manufacturing tenants — OpenMaker created a facilitated matchmaking methodology and digital tools for brokering maker-manufacturer partnerships. The programme was curated by experienced facilitators and tested in 4 pilot locations across 6 countries, giving you a ready-made model to replicate.

Business Consulting and Digital Transformation

SME

Target: Management consultancies advising manufacturers on open innovation strategies

If you advise manufacturing firms on innovation strategy and need proven methods beyond generic open innovation — this project produced network analysis tools and documented social dynamics data from real maker-manufacturer collaborations. With 24 deliverables including winning prototyping projects, you get evidence-based methods to recommend to clients.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this kind of maker-manufacturer collaboration programme?

The project data does not include specific pricing or licensing costs. OpenMaker was a publicly funded research project, so many of its methods and platform tools may be available openly. Contact the coordinator for details on reuse terms and any associated costs.

Can this scale beyond the original 4 pilot locations?

The programme was explicitly designed for replication. It was piloted in 4 European locations across 6 countries with a digital platform that allowed remote participation from additional locations. The network analysis methods were built to generate transferable insights about what makes these partnerships work.

What about intellectual property — who owns what comes out of these collaborations?

The project was built on open source principles and open manufacturing concepts. Based on available project data, the demo deliverables reference 'Open Manufacturing Prototyping projects,' suggesting outputs were intended to be openly shared. Specific IP terms would need to be confirmed with the consortium.

How long does it take to set up a maker-manufacturer partnership using this model?

The full project ran from June 2016 to December 2018 — roughly 30 months to develop, test, and refine the methodology across 4 locations. Based on the project structure, an individual partnership facilitation cycle would be significantly shorter, but exact timelines are not specified in the data.

Does this integrate with existing manufacturing systems or supply chains?

OpenMaker focused on the social and collaborative layer — connecting people and ideas — rather than direct integration with ERP or production systems. The digital platform supports communication and data collection on partnership dynamics, but it sits alongside existing manufacturing operations rather than replacing them.

Is there evidence this actually led to real products or business outcomes?

The project produced 24 deliverables including a documented set of winning prototyping projects from the 'PSS Winning projects' demo. These represent real maker-manufacturer collaborations that resulted in tangible prototypes. Full commercial outcome data is not available in the dataset.

Consortium

Who built it

The OpenMaker consortium of 11 partners across 6 countries (CH, ES, IT, SK, TR, UK) is heavily weighted toward research and support organisations — only 1 industry partner (9% industry ratio) with 3 universities and 3 research bodies. The 3 SMEs in the consortium bring some commercial perspective, but the low industry presence means the platform was designed more from an academic and social innovation angle than from direct manufacturing demand. For a business considering this approach, the methodology is well-researched but would benefit from stronger industry co-development to ensure practical fit. The Young Foundation (UK) coordinated — a social innovation organisation, not a manufacturer — which reinforces the social-impact orientation of the project.

THE YOUNG FOUNDATION LBGCoordinator · UK
LAMA SOCIETA COOPERATIVA - IMPRESA SOCIALEparticipant · IT
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
CONSORZIO TOP-IX - TORINO E PIEMONTE EXCHANGE POINTparticipant · IT
ACCORD HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITEDIPSparticipant · UK
SCUOLA IMT (ISTITUZIONI, MERCATI, TECNOLOGIE) ALTI STUDI DI LUCCAparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITAT ZURICHparticipant · CH
PLUSVALUEparticipant · UK
BOGAZICI UNIVERSITESIparticipant · TR

How to reach the team

The Young Foundation LBG (London, UK) — a social innovation organisation. Search for OpenMaker project coordinator contacts via their website or LinkedIn.

Order a report on this consortium See THE YOUNG FOUNDATION LBG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how open manufacturing collaboration methods from EU research can help your company innovate faster? SciTransfer can connect you with the right research teams and tailor the approach to your sector.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0