Lion Corporation
Project Case

A large company and a creative community
merge to discover new ideas through YouFab

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Psychic VR Lab
Project Case

Artists create ultimate futures and new VR visions
for the NewView project

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Taica Corporation
Project Case

Haptic design smooths the way
for a redefinition of Taica's αGEL

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Open Innovation at FabCafe:
Building products and services
that push innovation for companies

As of 2020, the FabCafe global network has 12 locations across Asia, Europe and Mexico.
Each location supports the creation of new value through co-creation with diverse creative communities.

Open Innovation

OUR SERVICES FabCafe specializes in
four key business services

Product and service development through collective intelligence

At FabCafe, we value collective innovation for impact. We support the development of products and services, together with the development of new applications for specific technologies, through user experience research and an agile methodology. FabCafe creates new value for businesses through collaboration with creative communities and individual creators who focus in areas such as digital fabrication, hardware, agriculture, bio, games, food, and haptic technology.

CASE

Student Ambassador Program to Create Fan Communities for Products

Autodesk,Inc.

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Exploring materials and new technologies in online and offline spaces

Our MTRL open innovation pack pushes innovation by bringing the physical appeal of materials out to potential users. Leveraging on the material catalogue on the MTRL website, FabCafe further enables people to touch, play with and explore samples of different materials. Through our FabCafe network, materials can be showcased to a diverse audience through meetups and hackathons with the theme of material at the center. At these meetups, we support the interesting projects that emerge when material manufacturers are put in direct contact with creators.

CASE

Haptic design smooths the way for a redefinition of Taica's αGEL

Taica Corporation

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International business development through global community creation

Businesses that are interested in expanding into overseas markets but find it difficult to make a sudden, large investment can make use of the space and local creative FabCafe communities, which has ten locations worldwide. The local FabCafe team can support an internationally held kick off event, including interviews with local creatives, interviews and exhibitions. FabCafe can also curate interesting in-store sales strategies, with workshops, and conduct research in local markets including test marketing and community building.

CASE

Artists create ultimate futures and new VR visions for the NewView project

Psychic VR Lab

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A Project-based learning approach to education

FabCafe offers an environment, professional staff and tools for students and working professionals of all ages to learn new skills and different kinds of thinking in the fields of science, mathematics, art or design. By designing, programming, or testing something by physically cutting it up with a machine and putting it together, people can nurture their creativity, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. By taking a hands-on approach to STEAM education, we aim to encourage students to think deeply about innovation in order to empower them to become the leaders who will help solve our future’s most pressing challenges. FabCafe offers custom STEAM educational programs for students to get real-world experience outside of the traditional classroom.

CASE

SUNY educational program brings students to Hida to study traditional techniques and technology

The School of Architecture at State University of New York at Buffalo

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OUR METHODS Leveraging on FabCafe’s diverse strengths
to make great impact through open innovation.

Hackathons / Makeathons

Many different kinds of people take part in hackathons, where they stretch themselves beyond their present professional boundaries and create new value. Over a period of time that can range from a day to a week, they work to tease out the problem, produce ideas, design, prototype, and right at the end, present a final product. Information related to the hackathons, including the judgement process and documentation of the output, can be posted on the website AWRD.

Price: From $9,300 USD (1 million JPY)

【CASE】: "Shibuya 'To Go' 48-Hour Design Challenge" Report

Shibuya City

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Business development through co-creation with the community

Holding events almost on a daily basis, FabCafe acts as a hub for connecting skilled professionals and hobbyists among different communities through meetups, workshops, and focused work groups. By connecting multidisciplinary specialist, webring together ideas, techniques, and experiences for a burst of innovation across genres.

Price: From $28,000 USD (3 million JPY)

【CASE】: Designing an automated yacht using AI design

everblue technologies

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The MTRL open innovation pack

Price: From $28,000 USD (3 million JPY)

【CASE】: Haptic design smooths the way for a redefinition of Taica's αGEL

Taica Corporation

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Collaborating with the YouFab Global Creative Awards

YouFab is a global award sponsored by FabCafe that has attracted over 1,300 participants from over 30 different countries, with more than 130 award winners. In the corporate award, a company sets its own theme and explores the creation of innovation from artistic thinking through the award, which seeks a wide range of ideas from artists.

Special award sponsorship: From $47,000 USD (5 million JPY)

【CASE】: A large company and a creative community merge to discover new ideas through YouFab

Lion Corporation

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Promotion at a cafe visited by more than 5,000 people each month

FabCafe runs everything from fabrication experiences using 3D printers and laser cutters to events using the latest technology such as VR/AR and robots. It produces experiential events and exhibitions that move visitors and inspire them to want to get chatting with people. We can cater to your needs, whether it be a day-long event or a long-term campaign.

Price: From $9,300 USD (1 million JPY)

【CASE】: A Space Brothers campaign to promote the fan community and bring together crafts, food, and technology

Cork, Inc.

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Collaboration with FabCafe global network

As of 2020, the FabCafe global network has 12 locations worldwide: Tokyo, Hida, Nagoya and Kyoto (Japan), Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Barcelona (Spain), Toulouse and Strasbourg (France), Bangkok (Thailand), and Monterrey (Mexico). Each FabCafe creates new value by taking advantage of the local community and fabrication and technologies that are unique to the region.

Price: From $47,000 USD (5 million JPY)

【CASE】: Artists create ultimate futures and new VR visions for the NewView project

Psychic VR Lab

SEE DETAILS

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CLIENTS & PARTNERS

WHAT’S FabCafe?

FabCafe is a creative network that spans 12 locations worldwide: Tokyo, Hida, Nagoya and Kyoto (Japan); Taipei (Taiwan); Barcelona (Spain); Toulouse and Strasbourg (France); Bangkok (Thailand); Monterrey (Mexico); and Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Machines for digital fabrication, such as 3D printers and laser cutters are installed in a cafe space where people come together.

Each day, creators visit these FabCafes to meet new people, gather together, compete over their talents, and share a forum for presentation. They engage in a wide variety of projects that make use of fabrication, materials, and technologies that are unique to the region.

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