[GSEF2016]: Fab Lab + Social Economy: technological and social innovation that creates value in professional and collective enterprises

Category: 
South America
SSE Organisation
Class: 
Future of Work / Technology
Social Service / Employment

Presented at: GSEF2016 Montreal

Organisation: Incubadora Idit Ibero - Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla (Academic Institution)

Date: September 8, 2016

Presenter: Ms.Elia Maria Irigoyen García (Coordinator)

Contactselia.irigoyen@iberopuebla.mx

Summary

Since 2013, the Puebla Iberoamerican University, through the Social Idit Ibero Social Economy Project, has incubated and propelled over 80 businesses and social economy collective organizations, most of which are located in poor or vulnerable areas, by providing them with technological development and innovation tools. This responds to the fact that social and technological innovation in line with the principles of social economy have been proven to boost and increase the subsistence of such groups and organizations, all the while helping the individuals who make them up solve their individual and collective needs. The Puebla Fab Lab, an ally of the project, has been a key player for the innovation of the products and processes in these initiatives. The Fab Lab has enabled the entrepreneurs to gain access to the technological and methodological tools which have brought about innovations. In turn, innovation has resulted in greater sales and income. Two such examples are the Colectivo Analco and the Taller de Fabricación Digital e Innovación, which have adopted associative business models.