Fab City at AMS Scientific Conference 2026

This session explores how cities can shift from being consumers of global supply chains to active producers of what they need locally. At the center of this transition are makerspaces, not as isolated labs, but as infrastructure for new urban systems. Drawing from the Fab City model, the discussion looks at how distributed production, shared knowledge, and community-led innovation can reshape how cities operate. The focus is on scaling what already works at the local level into city-wide strategies that support more resilient, inclusive, and circular economies. Bringing together perspectives from across Europe, the session connects real-world practice with broader systemic change. From urban labs to fabrication networks, it highlights how citizens can move from passive users to active contributors in shaping their environments. The conversation will also address what it actually takes to scale this approach: governance, funding, access to infrastructure, and new ways of learning. The goal is to move beyond pilots and into implementation.