Taiwan’s Executive Yuan Embraces the Maker Movement at FAN2

With 15 Makerspaces and 5 classroom education focused labs (see the Taipei Maker’s Map for a evolving list), Taipei has a rapidly growing Maker culture, but still maintains a highly traditional educational system.

However, that may be changing. During FAN2, the FabLab Asia Network‘s 2nd week-long conference that cumulated in Maker Faire Taipei, Taiwan’s Premier, Mao Chi-ku, announced that the Maker Movement has become an international trend and launched a three-month “vMaker” (v for victory) innovation competition to take place at the Taiwan Air Force (TAF) innovation base (former site of the ROC Air Force Headquarters).

The ROC government extends full support to the maker movement, as innovation is a major source for future industrial development. To take to DIY is to actualize one’s creativity, Mao noted. – The Executive Yuan

vMaker Launch Party and Snippets of FAN2

Traveling “Fab Trucks” have already been touring the nation’s schools to give students hands-on access to 3D printing equipment. Here’s a bit from FAN2 and the vMaker launch party. Watch for more photos in the upcoming post for the Taipei Maker Faire.

Fab Trucks headed to schools around Taiwan.

Big crowd around the Fab Trucks for more speeches and demos.

Anna Kaziunas France meets Taiwan’s Prime Minister!

The current state of the Taiwan Air Force (TAF) innovation base (former site of the ROC Air Force Headquarters).

They brought out the band for the vMaker announcement!

Getting set up for the 2015 vMaker press conference.

Jean-Michel Molenaar presenting on the new “Academy of Almost Anything” course HTGAA: How to Grow Almost Anything in personal genomics and biohacking.

FAN2 Presentations.

Outside the Taiwan Air Force (TAF) innovation base gates.

Next Stop: Maker Faire Taipei!