The Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), a sub-conference developed by re:publica, brings together innovation hub managers, makers, hackers and entrepreneurs from across the world. In the last four years GIG has become a central part of the conference programme, showcasing tech innovation and maker projects from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The GIG members have formed a strong community, exchanging information and expertise on innovation and maker issues throughout the year.
At re:publica 2017 GIG will once again come together for its fifth annual gathering; its members will take over the #rp17 stages on numerous occasions during the three re:publica days. Like last year, GIG will host a pop-up Makerspace together with the FabLab Berlin where participants can learn about innovation in hardware, tinker, solder and get their hands sticky in various workshops.
re:publica 2017's GIG Event Programme
2017 GIG is taking place in collaboration with the StartHubs Asia Berlin project, initiated by the City of Berlin, and GIZ. Over 20 different nationalities will be hosting talks and workshops ranging from using the open-source software Ushahidi for reporting extra judicial killings in the Philippines, to open citizen data projects in Indonesia, Columbia and Brazil, and self-made ISPs in the Amazon jungle. The programme also covers current and global political developments and discusses various issues such as the prevailing debate on online hate speech and how to mitigate it, in particular in conflict regions such as South Sudan.
2017's GIG Makerspace
The heart of GIG at re:publica 2017 is the makerspace, hosted in collaboration with FabLab Berlin. At the makerspace we will run workshops throughout the day, enabling re:publica participants to experience the world of hardware innovation. With a particular focus on open health, biohacking, music and fashiontech the makerspace will feature projects from the FabLab Berlin and GIG community.
We were also really happy about our media partnership with Make:Magazin, which covered the GIG maker community.
Photo credit: re:publica/Jan Zappner (CC BY 2.0)