create an open lab
Help document
Definition: an open lab is a community-operated workspace where people with common interests and goals can meet, socialize and collaborate (examples: fab labs, makerspaces, coworking spaces, hacker spaces, and OVN spaces ...)
You want to create an open lab? You have an open lab and want to adopt the OVN model and perhaps join our larger ecosystem? Here you can learn how, or get the help you need.
See the Sensorica Montreal lab.
service
Sensorica can provide assistance to rapidly establish a local lab in exchange of a fixed financial contribution to the community.
Service package
Acquisition and installation of equipment
Mobilisation and capacity building
Training for running the lab
Governance: rules, legal structure
IT infrastructure
Economic / business model
Budget
Cost of equipment (variable, based on the vocation of the lab)
Consultancy costs ($25K USD)
Training (lab administration, governance, IT infrastructure, procedures, equipment (operation and safety), collaborative business models)
Operations support: IT infrastructure, governance and procedures (best practices)
Outreach and community building support
Ongoing, problem-based assistance
Stages
Phase 1 - initialisation, mobilization and capacity building (2 months)
This phase starts by establishing a baseline survey to understand the needs of the local community, which will determine the vocation of the lab. The local community will be mobilized to identify initial participants and stakeholders. A training program will be conducted for the mobilized participants and stakeholders, tailored to the characteristics of your future lab. If needed, founding sources will be identified and funding proposals will be drafted. If not already secured, a location will be specified and identified. We will also build the IT infrastructure, a minimal governance and establish some key procedures.
Phase 2 - Establishment and Operationalisation (4 months)
During this phase, the lab space will be designed, equipment will be installed and training programs will be conducted, the legal structure will be created.
Phase 3 - Economic / Business model
Establishment and consolidation of various activities that will ensure the sustainability of the lab (revenue generation and others).
Readings
General documentation
MESI memo for the collaborative economy [see also the french version]
A lot more on the OVN wiki
How-to - OVN proto-manual
Larger ecosystems, see NOICE - LEVOICE - Verdun project
How-To
! Under development ...
CAUTION: Starting up a new open lab or a new OVN requires a lot of experience and know-how. Mistakes can be very costly. We strongly encourage you to contact us for support.
Design considerations
Decide on the vocation of your open space. This determines what's in the space, how it is arranged, safety and security features, governance, economic model, etc.
Take the following characteristics into consideration in your design process.
Transparent: provide easy access to information about activities contained within
Open: provide easy access to participation in activities
Shared: makes cohabitation easy, contains shareable materials, tools and equipment
Collaborative: foster collaborative behavior
Modular: can easily be modified to accommodate new activities
add others...
Read about Legolab and Labonline.
Growth
Design and implement the following processes:
Outreach (visibility, communication, value proposition) - how do I know that you exist and why would I pay attention?
On boarding - how do I join?
Greeting (welcome, presentation, demo, orientation) - my first interaction and impression?
Joining (granting credentials, membership) - how do I join?
Facilitation (orientation, help, support) - how do I do stuff?
Leaving - what happens if I become inactive or quit?
Navigation
Design signalization, consider function, safety and security. See examples.
Administration
Define support roles with responsibilities and benefits (example from Sensorica lab).
Define important tasks to maintain the space and the community, consider incentives, adopt a task management tool (Ex. Trello).
Define important procedures and methodologies. Get more information from the administration of the Sensorica lab.
Resources
Think about the various types of resources that you need to gather and allocate
Tangible
Material: consumables, tools, equipment, furniture, space
Currency: money, tokens
Intangible
Branding
With respect to the lifetime: kick start --> roll --> close/re-purpose
Use this template to create a budget, in case you want to drive a funding campaign.
IT tools
Documentation - any open and shared service, can be Google Drive, in conjunction with an integration and aggregation tool such as a website (Google Sites for example).
Coordination - any open and shared service, can be Google Calendar, Trello, etc
Contribution accounting system - See Sensorica's NRP-CAS
Planning - see Sensorica's Trello, also use the NRP-CAS
Inventory - see Sensorica's inventory using the NRP-CAS
Decision making - See Loomio
add others...
Governance
Formulate lab access rules - get inspired from Sensorica lab rules.
If you sublet space, subleasing agreement - remix from Sensoirca's template.
Formalize relation with a Custodian - remix from Sensorica's template (under development).
Endogenous project governance - remix from Sensorica's template.
Service project governance - remix from Sensorica's template.
Custodian Agreement for projects - remix from Sensorica's template.
Deal with for-profit organisations - open Sensorica's doc.
Partnership and memorandum of understanding - remix from Sensorica's template.
Open Innovation Partnership Agreement - remix from Sensorica's template.
Exchange Firm Agreement for projects - remix from Sensorica's template.
