The activity of the largest Russian network of Youth Innovation Creativity Centres, embracing Tomsk, Irkutsk, Kaluga, Penza regions, St. Petersburg, Moscow region, Krasnoyarsk region and the Republic of Tatarstan, moves into a high gear.
The professional workshop (YICC “Idea”) is being created in the territory of Technopark “Idea” which has much in common with a scientist’s laboratory or an expert’s workshop and equipped with a wide range of instruments and consumable materials. The workshop is headed by a supervisor who controls and guides each member of the educational process in the right direction.
At one time from 10 to 15 persons will be able to use new universal prototyping equipment under the supervision of two full-time professionals.
The YICC “Idea” equipment can be used for both: educational and commercial purposes. Opportunities for the youth development are not practically limited.
At present the prospect of 3D-printers is drawn in such areas as: architecture, where you can prototype a single building model using 3D-printer; geo information system and geology, where such systems can be used to create three-dimensional color maps; industrial design and mechanical engineering, where such printer can be used for prototyping and concept models of future consumable products or their parts; medicine, where such device can essentially simplify the process of dental prosthesis fabrication and fitting; artistic, theatrical and educational areas, where there is a need to reproduce an identical copy of items (e.g., as a movie or play set), moulages of rare museum pieces or visual aids for schoolchildren and students.
YICC “Idea” in the business segment can provide the following services:
design visualization, as an aid in the design;
visualization, as an aid in the tool making and technological tools (including mold tools, casting molds and others);
presentation models (exhibitions, advertising);
functional models (used for its intended purpose, for example, bench and field tests);
structural tuning, adjustment, assemblability control;
study of the product’s ergonomic properties (e.g., handle, seat, instrument panel, etc.);
metal casting models (including investment pattern);
direct parts-making (e.g., metal fabrication).
In future YICC “Idea” will be integrated into the international network “Fab Lab”.
Totally nine Youth Innovation Creativity Centres are being created in Tatarstan under this programme. Two centres will be located in Kazan, by one in Zelenodolsk, Chistopol, Leninogorsk, Bugulma, Naberezhnye Chelny, in Drozhannoe and Bogatye Saby rural areas.
In May 2012, the RF Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) announced a contest on the organization of Youth Innovation Creativity Centres (YICC) focusing on the FabLab model in accordance with the Order of the RF Ministry of Economic Development No. 223 dated April 23, 2012 for the creation of Russian “FabLab” network integrated into the international community.
The Republic of Tatarstan won the contest. It gave the right to receive a grant for the creation of YICCs in Tatarstan.
Thus, the Youth Innovation Creativity Centre (YICC) is a Russian equivalent of international network “Fab Lab”.
The Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) headed by Ivan M. Bortnik and Organization of Youth Innovative Russia (YIR) headed by Anna Bukhalo are ideological inspirers of the creation and development of YICC network in Russia. The project development prospects, primarily, the readiness of the Russian youth to breakthrough platforms for their creativity development were defined at a joint meeting held in Innovational production Technopark “Idea” on November 21, 2011. The idea of YICCs creation was also supported by the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan in the person of First Deputy Prime Minister Ravil Muratov.
The Ministry of Economic Development and the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia make financial contributions to the project. The total amount of the programme is 350 million rubles. The total number of YICCs is more than 30.
Subsidy rates of the Ministry of Economic Development cumulatively with the regional means in each of dozens of the winner-projects will be amounted to 10 million rubles in the first year.
FabLab reference data:
FabLab – a global network of unified laboratories throughout the world with a common data base and a function to share the experience and consult with the leading global experts using videoconference system.
FabLab – a product of digital revolution: digital photography and digital music are followed by a digital production. Computer-controlled “intelligent” devices process a variety of materials removing all needless or vice versa, adding new elements, giving them the desired form – so this is the way of plane and solid parts production: lever, flywheel, gear, and even electronic board… A man only needs to assemble all the details.
FabLab, born as a university project in the Center for Bits and Atoms, MIT in 2001, due to the principles of openness and accessibility has turned into a global network of digital fabrication laboratories throughout the world which share common principles, use similar equipment and technology, share ideas and resources.
These centres provide a set of computer-controlled devices (tools) for the production of details in various sizes and materials, democratizing production technologies earlier available only in expensive mass production.
Source: tpidea.ru
