MakerSpace in Perm - a platform for the implementation of technical ideas

In Perm in 2014, a workshop of technical creativity Makerspace was opened, where everyone can engage in their project and assemble a team for the championship in robotics. Ivan Pechischev, a greenhouse coordinator in Perm, interviewed Semyon Tarakanov, one of the creators of the Perm Makerspace, creative space-master and discussed how the workshop works, what happened and what went wrong.

- Semyon, tell us how it all began?

- In 2014, I spent six months in Kazan, participated in preparations for the opening of the private technopark “Navigator Campus” . There I met another Permyak, Vlad Lunachev, and upon returning to Perm, we decided to open Makerspace .

We had an idea to create a platform in the format of creative space-master. All over the world they are called Makerspace or Hackspace . This is a place open to everyone where everyone can implement their projects. From here, technical projects will start. Thanks to the site, the threshold of entering the market is reduced.

Today, many active people have an idea to do something technical, but there are not enough tools, support, teams. Makerspace is the place where you can find like -minded people, get help and help another.

It so coincided that since the beginning of 2014, the Perm administration and the Perm Polytechnic University resolved the issue of organizing something innovative and technical. For this purpose, they found a room-the second site of the city business incubator on the basement of the five-story building on the street. Pushkin, 66.

We started with a small room. They brought their equipment, machines, began to work together. Then we were joined by diverse specialists in the field of mechanics, IT, electronics, graduates and students. They introduced their useful experience and skills to our community.

Today Makeerspace has several rooms. In small rooms similar to offices, IT teams are located. Two rooms are larger - these are workshop rooms for creating gadgets where there are machines, equipment. The largest room is also a hall for meetings with a large board, a projector. Here we hold our meetings.

-When did you feel that the community really exists?

- In November 2015, the National Championship “Battle of Robots” was held in Perm. In these competitions, robots of various shapes fight in the arena, and the developers remotely control them.

Makerspace has become one of the centers of preparation for the championship. Most of the teams were related to our community. And three teams here completely gathered their robots. The rest did not have enough space. Our community rallied even more, it has become more active. To create a robot requires a variety of knowledge and skills. Makerspace has become the assembly point of many teams.

In the 2015 Battle of Robots, the X-FORCE team won, which created its robot in MAKERSPACE.

- How does Makerspace work from the inside?

- Initially, we did not have a goal. Everyone comes here in free time from the main job. For many, this is a hobby, a hobby. Although if it brought money, life in Makerspace would be more active.

We did not try to attract grants. We wanted us to have a place where we can make our projects. Open area. We created it. At the same time, we must understand that we are not an educational platform, but we are ready to share experience, equipment.

Yes, it is difficult to create such a place. Someone needs to engage in administration, organization of the site. We do not have the opportunity to pay for the administrator’s work, since there is no funding. But we have a room without the obligation to pay for rent and housing and communal services.

In Makerspace, we hold mitaps, thematic meetings, watching documentaries. We are not presented with requirements for the number of events and the number of their participants. The main thing is that such a place exists.

I must say that in Perm, in comparison with other regional centers, a fruitful technological environment. We have the history of the city - industrial, technical. As a result, we have many technically educated people who are ready to create something interesting. I would evaluate the potential size of the MakerSpace community in Perm at 200-300 people. If there is an appropriate room, an organization, you will see so much here.

- Do Makerspace participants create their commercial projects?

- Yes. One of their vivid examples is a project with a city park. Gorky in 2015. Representatives of the park asked us to create equipment for remote photography on the attractions. Danil Borshov took up this work and made photographs by order.

Makerspace - place of meeting of customers and performers. This is important. Already business representatives come to Makerspace. Having wide technical knowledge, we can do a lot for them.

It is necessary that everyone knows that in the city there is a place where enthusiastic people are engaged in crazy projects that no one can do.

We are open to all interested "techies".

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