A government work report triggered a kind of attention from top to bottom. Due to Premier Li Keqiang’s support, Makerspace became the focus of NPC and CPPCC, and the hottest word among entrepreneurs in the spring of 2015.
In Shanghai, after the establishment of the first makerspace “Xinchejian”, now there are at least 7 makerspaces flourishing. As the founder of “Xinchejian”, Li Dawei founded AC117 Maker Accelerator jointly with DOBE in 2014. This makerspace pattern in DOBE E-manor of Caohejing is creating more possibilities for makers’ future.
Turn “Makers” into “Founders”
Makers’ atmosphere in Shanghai is thick. But at present, they still stay in the stage of “having fun”. It’s hard to turn good projects into products. The biggest advantage of Shanghai is Shanghai’s industrial design level is the closest to international level. This gives makers unique advantages in quickly launching products in the market and enhancing their products’ value added, etc.
Based on the current maker development features, DOBE Group and Li Dawei jointly founded AC117 Maker Accelerator. Dominated by industrial designers, hand in hand with smart hardware product development teams, AC117 Maker Accelerator provides a series of product services, to launch makers’ products in the market quickly.
In AC117 Maker Accelerator, creative design is really integrated with technology and manufacturing, and thus the “transformation from creative ideas to entrepreneurship” is realized.
AC117——Make Dreams Come True
At present, AC117 Maker Accelerator is attracting maker teams worldwide, while providing makerspaces and comprehensive services for free. In software and hardware support aspect, AC117 Maker Accelerator has cooperated with Intel China and World Peace Industrial Group, to provide makers with integrated chips for electronic products and other electronic components.
Foxconn and AC117 Maker Accelerator reached an agreement to provide finished design drawing support, provide makers with real product design drawing support in the shortest time, to let makers know the possibility of mass manufacturing for their products.
AC117 Maker Accelerator advocates product development dominated by industrial designers, to make the plans have sufficient feasibility, and help their design works turn into products. When the design works really become mature products, AC117 Maker Accelerator will help maker teams with product market validation in the early stage, and help the projects with A Round Financing after successful crowd-funding.
Providing Shanghai Makers with a Broader Platform
After its establishment, AC117 Maker Accelerator holds 2-3 maker events each month on average. The events have become small launching events for maker products many times. For example, famous domestic maker MJ’s micro air detector Dita made its first appearance at an AC117 Event.
AC117 Maker Accelerator’s founding impelled creative design to integrate with smart hardware and new manufacturing, subverted traditional assembly line production pattern, and promoted manufacturing industry’s transformation from “made in China” to “created in China”. So far, many projects like Small Maker, Robot Maker and Biochemical Maker have settled down in AC117 Maker Accelerator.
On March 10th, the State Council issued the “Guiding Opinions about Developing Mass Creative Space and Promoting Mass Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, to make arrangements for promoting mass entrepreneurship and innovation. This is a new exploration of China in encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. This also is the beginning of “makers” leading Chinese economic growth.