Maker Faire, the future begins from Rome: the phenomenon of the FabLab in the capital – The Messenger

When it says “Rome”, in recent times, even before the “beauty” or “dolce vita”, come to mind words such as “malfeasance” and “degradation”. Yet the name of the capital of Italy should also be associated with a term far more positive: “innovation”.

First, because, from tomorrow until Sunday, October 18, in the Campus of Knowledge will host the Maker Faire Rome, the largest exhibition of technological innovation in Europe. But also because, once the spotlight on this great event will be off, a light will continue to shine on the city. A light came on for some years and which has often been ignored, which arises not from the glittering streets of the old town and even in the frescoed rooms of the palaces of power, but in the cellars, garages and homes of suburban neighborhoods .

From Primavalle Pigneto, through the Quadraro and Bufalotta, were born the so-called Fablab, spontaneous workshops in which gathered the best minds in the capital with the idea of ​​solving problems and sharing ideas and solutions. Rome Makers, based in Garbatella, is one of these. As explained in Messenger TV founder, Leonardo Zaccaro, it is a network of “makers” or, as he calls them, the “digital artisans.” Besides Rome Makers, in the capital there are two other important network of innovators: SpqrWork, at Portonaccio and the Digital World Foundation, based Quadraro.

STORIES

 In recent years the city became aware of this great hidden potential. Thus they were born incubators startup, structures that, with the support of important institutions such as universities, have given us the means to young innovators to implement their ideas, building business opportunities. Just one of these so-called “business accelerator”, the Luiss Enlabs based at Termini was born Qurami, an app that serves to rationalize and dispose queues, decreasing the time wasted to wait your turn in line. One solution, designed by engineer Roberto Roman mill, which will be adopted by the post office in England.

But the success stories which have carried out a lot of the makers are Romans. Beginning with that of Translated, a company founded in an incubator of EUR, Picampus. The startup of the linguist Mark Trombley, via the Internet, has managed to become a reality that provides translations for large multinational companies, such as Google. Then there is the case of Nicholas Greek, little genius of 22 years who already can boast a collaboration with Tim Berners-Lee, father of the World Wide Web (www). And even Lucy, the device that distributes solar energy in homes, designed by Diva Tommei, Roman is also finished on the cover of Forbes. Or Olo, the first 3d printer for smartphones, Filippo Moroni and Peter Gabriel.

In short, Rome is already the capital of innovation. And to emphasize this, the Maker Faire Rome will open with just an event for makers Roman “Made in Rome”, to be held in the spaces of the Ex Customs of San Lorenzo tonight at 18. As recalled by the curator of Maker Faire, Riccardo Luna: “Funding, people and ideas are there, that’s enough to create a system.” A truly virtuous. Other than Mafia Capital.

andrea.andrei@ilmessaggero.it

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