Maud Chidiac - Cities that make: the urban manufacturing Renaissance
Channel: Ouishare TV
Date: 2017-09-06

A couple centuries ago, cities had to produce most of what they consume. Industrial revolutions introduced economies of scale and lower transportation costs, which increased global commerce. Globalization then led to an increased the global concentration of production, a phenomenon amplified by the digital revolution, network effects, and the new focus of industrialized economies on services - while they outsourced manufacturing to emerging countries. 

But the same digital revolution gave birth to a new range of technologies, processes and business models for "advanced manufacturing" that is lighter, smaller, cheaper and more flexible, making it suitable again for production in cities. In short, we are witnessing a Renaissance of Urban Manufacturing, where connectivity, automation and digital fabrication have replaced the steam, smoke and noise of large factories of cities of past. 

During this session, we will explore new opportunities and challenges of urban manufacturing for hardware entrepreneurs, makers, designers, policymakers and established companies.