Programs
Overview
Experience a unique and unforgettable adventure at FAB23 Bhutan! Immerse yourself in the Kingdom's rich culture, and explore its breathtaking scenery while engaging in our 14-day program from July 16-28, 2023.
As part of the global Fab Lab Network, FabX chooses a new city to host its annual event each year. This year, Thimphu, Bhutan has the honor of hosting FAB23, making it the first time the event is held in this stunning country. FAB23 Bhutan is the 19th edition of FabX, offering an exceptional opportunity to connect with makers, innovators, and communities from around the world.
Theme
Designing Resilient Futures acknowledges the changes and transformations that Bhutan is currently undertaking. Through the focus on resilience, FAB23 Bhutan aims to act as a catalyst, providing a global forum for the ecosystem of makers, inventors, artists, academics, researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and creative people to connect, collaborate and co-create pathways to shape our shared future.
The theme also attempts to connect to Bhutan’s new national strategic focus: Believe. At the heart of this shift is a renewed belief in the nation’s capabilities, values, contribution, and future. The conference will embrace Bhutan's future with digital fabrication solutions, centering resilience and adaptability as the core elements of solution development.
Get inspired to design our future economies by visionaries and thought leaders from digital fabrication businesses, research institutions, academia, government, entrepreneurial endeavors, and community-based organizations.
Pillars
To maximize the conference’s impact, the main theme will be explored through four distinct lenses:
- Technology
- Youth & Education
- Economic Opportunity
- Innovation, Sustainability & Community
How does it work?
The event features four separate but interconnected programs, each a unique experience with a specific goal. We invite participants to join all four, if possible.
Read below about the various programs, and find more information to see where you would like to participate.
- Fab Bhutan Challenges -- July 16-21
- Fab Festival Bhutan -- July 23
-
Fab Lab Conference -- July 24-27
- Symposium & Panels
- Workshop & Activities
- Graduations
- Fab City Summit -- July 28
From July 23-28, activities will be hosted at Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super Fab lab (JNWSFL) in Thimphu.
The Fab Bhutan Challenge
| July 16-21
The Fab Bhutan Challenge is a structured innovation competition bringing together local and global innovation communities to propose meaningful interventions that enrich, scale, and invest in Bhutan’s resilient economy from the bottom up.
Five areas of intervention in the local context of Bhutan will be identified and collaboratively addressed by five local Fab Labs and five international teams.
THIS INITIATIVE HAS LIMITED PARTICIPANT CAPACITY.
Once the established threshold of challengers is reached, the ticket will include all activities except the Challenge—that is, all activities taking place July 21-28.
Vist Fab Bhutan Challenge website
Produced by the Fab City Foundation and hosted by JNW Super Fab Lab, DGI Fablab, CNR Bio-Fablab, TTTRC Fablab & FabLab CST Phuentsholing
FAB Festival Bhutan
| July 23
The Fab Festival in Bhutan is a one-day public event that showcases digital fabrication to the local community. The festival encourages makers and their families to participate in various activities, such as hands-on workshops, playful competitions, and technical talks by prominent makers and innovators.
The festival aims to inspire and empower the local community and highlight the diversity of makers and activities from Bhutan and around the world. It provides an opportunity to learn about digital fabrication and how it can be used to create sustainable solutions for local communities.
No registration is needed to join the activities; just make sure you are in time for the sessions.
Stay tuned for further updates on the content for this day!
Fab Lab Conference and Symposium
| July 24-27
The conference offers a platform for participants to showcase their work, share ideas, collaborate on projects, and learn about the latest trends and developments in digital fabrication and related fields.
At FAB23 Bhutan, we will feature a range of activities including workshops, talks, panels, and other events. The conference aims to foster a culture of innovation and sustainability and to inspire the local and international community to engage with digital fabrication as a means of creating positive change through this year’s theme: “Designing Resilient Futures.”
Activities:
- Learn about the latest trends and innovations in digital manufacturing
- Attend talks and panels on a variety of topics related to digital fabrication
- Participate in hands-on and theoretical workshops to learn new skills and techniques
- Network with other members of the global community to build new connections
- Explore the host city and culture through various events and activities
Fab City Summit
| July 28
The Fab City Summit is an important part of FAB23 Bhutan, designed to be a dynamic and interactive experience, with a range of activities and sessions that encourage participants to think creatively and critically about the challenges facing cities today.
By participating in the Fab City Summit, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to a global conversation about sustainable and accessible futures for cities and become part of a movement that is shaping the future of urban development.