KOCHI: As localised digital fabrication is poised to revolutionize the world of architecture and building construction, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is establishing 50 Fabrication Laboratories (Fab Labs) at various technical colleges across the state to nurture and groom the students in this high-potential segment.
Jayasankar Prasad, CEO of KSUM, said this was as part of training students to design and manufacture any products using advanced manufacturing machines. Inaugurating the second leg of the third edition of the FabLab Asia Network conference (FAN3) at Mattancherry here Tuesday, Jayasankar said that 20 such laboratories will start functioning by the end of February this year. Work order for another 30 laboratories have been given and the installation works will start soon.
“KSUM has earmarked Rs 10 crore for the project which will be a fabricating platform enabling students to come forward and develop their ideas in the lab. The training for teachers at the colleges have been completed and once the installation is completed, students can utilise the facility,” Jayasankar said. While government will provide full financial support for government colleges, this will be 50 per cent for aided colleges and 25 per cent for private colleges.
The maker culture should benefit the common man and technology should meet with art for achieving the goal. In the days to come, people can design and manufacture any product using advanced manufacturing machines linked to a computer, he added.
Riyas Komu, co-founder, Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB) said that Biennale helped in creating awareness for contemporary arts. Innovations and technology are being used at KMB, which is of great demand now. “People are very curious to know about art. We feel that there is a need for a bond between art and technology. Kochi can give a great amount of success where art and technology meet”, Riyas Komu said.With the establishment of Fabrication Laboratories, we will be able to make technology more useful. There should be more discussions on art and technology, he suggested.
Ted Hung, Director, Fablab, Taipei, made a presentation of Fablab Asia Foundation, a network of 81 Fablabs located in 21 countries in the Asia Pacific region.
The first leg of the conference was held at Mumbai and the second leg at Kochi was hosted by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM),Vigyan Ashram and Research Innovation Incubation Design Labs (RiiDL). Fablabs also serve as a knowledge sharing network that connects a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers and innovators. The FAN3 conference is part of such an exercise. Around 80 international delegates and 200 local makers are participating in this year’s conference.