OFFER TO COLLABORATE:
CHT#1:
"Creative Home to Technology"
A laboratory-residence
@ Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain)
( Revision 2013 )
Table of Contents
¶Introduction
Hackerspaces are community-operated places where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art and modern alternative social practices can socialise, share tools and ideas, learn, collaborate. They are open laboratories, hubs of innovation, with emphasis on making more with less, and the dedication to “do it yourself” (DIY).
They can be seen as a parallel to the co-working movement, a recent trend in the developed countries of sharing the working environment, with independent activity, and focus on the community.
We are a team of young technologists, entrepreneurs and scholars, establishing an EU-wide network of interconnected live-in hackerspaces. It is a 21 st century idea of a distributed, temporary working & living environment, by and for young project leaders.
In this manner, the spaces resemble “startup houses”, university campuses, or research complexes, but are much simpler to implement and scale, with only very slight repurposing of existing space.
We wish to facilitate intense local-focused environments for the exchange & development of innovative ideas, combining the participation of both the local community, and a strong flow of people from all across the EU.
We have decided to start in Lanzarote, and CHT#1 was established in December 2011. We would now like to present it, and work with you to improve, scale and open it to the public.
Hackerspaces are community-operated places where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art and modern alternative social practices can socialise, share tools and ideas, learn, collaborate. They are open laboratories, hubs of innovation, with emphasis on making more with less, and the dedication to “do it yourself” (DIY).
They can be seen as a parallel to the co-working movement, a recent trend in the developed countries of sharing the working environment, with independent activity, and focus on the community.
We are a team of young technologists, entrepreneurs and scholars, establishing an EU-wide network of interconnected live-in hackerspaces. It is a 21 st century idea of a distributed, temporary working & living environment, by and for young project leaders.
In this manner, the spaces resemble “startup houses”, university campuses, or research complexes, but are much simpler to implement and scale, with only very slight repurposing of existing space.
We wish to facilitate intense local-focused environments for the exchange & development of innovative ideas, combining the participation of both the local community, and a strong flow of people from all across the EU.
We have decided to start in Lanzarote, and CHT#1 was established in December 2011. We would now like to present it, and work with you to improve, scale and open it to the public.
¶Who are we targeting?
CHT#1 Lanzarote is to serve as a unique ground for different types of people coming together.
CHT#1 Lanzarote is to serve as a unique ground for different types of people coming together.
¶ 1.) Young, creative, innovation-oriented people from the local community
...by offering them a stimulating incubative environment, where they can educate themselves in the field of information-communication technologies (ICT), and get assistance with forming their startup business or artistic idea.
...by offering them a stimulating incubative environment, where they can educate themselves in the field of information-communication technologies (ICT), and get assistance with forming their startup business or artistic idea.
¶ 2.) Youth from Spain and the EU during studies, or at the beginning of their professional career, possibly facing job-related difficulties
We believe Lanzarote can give a strong response to European youth’s grim economic reality, a consequence of the global economic crisis.
Using the existing infrastructure of cheap flights, accommodation capacities, and extending local agricultural capacity, we strive to be the most inclusive youth movement for technological innovation possible. We would like Lanzarote to be a place of inspiration - where it is possible to come together for a short time, rethink one’s position, work on the land, do a project, study in a different environment, and return empowered.
We believe Lanzarote can give a strong response to European youth’s grim economic reality, a consequence of the global economic crisis.
Using the existing infrastructure of cheap flights, accommodation capacities, and extending local agricultural capacity, we strive to be the most inclusive youth movement for technological innovation possible. We would like Lanzarote to be a place of inspiration - where it is possible to come together for a short time, rethink one’s position, work on the land, do a project, study in a different environment, and return empowered.
¶ 3.) Nomadic professionals; established scholars; technology & business champions from all over the world
We are inviting established and successful individuals and groups to be part of our spaces for different amounts of time. Some modern types of work (“laptop jobs”) do not depend on a specific physical place, and these digital nomads -- if specific working infrastructure conditions are met -- can do their work almost anywhere they wish. This is a young movement, and we will help to establish and promote it CHT#1 Lanzarote can be the go-to place for their short-term creative projects, but also a place of their creative exchange with others: to showcase their work, share their skills and pass their knowledge. Most will visit the island for the first time; many will return,and some will even establish their own residences, while maintaining a connection to the lab.
We are inviting established and successful individuals and groups to be part of our spaces for different amounts of time. Some modern types of work (“laptop jobs”) do not depend on a specific physical place, and these digital nomads -- if specific working infrastructure conditions are met -- can do their work almost anywhere they wish. This is a young movement, and we will help to establish and promote it CHT#1 Lanzarote can be the go-to place for their short-term creative projects, but also a place of their creative exchange with others: to showcase their work, share their skills and pass their knowledge. Most will visit the island for the first time; many will return,and some will even establish their own residences, while maintaining a connection to the lab.
¶The result
A web of real-world and digital relationships among participating people, from which new personal friendships, collaborations, careers, projects and startups will emerge. This will also echo in strong Lanzarote media presence, especially social media, expose local businesses to new connections, and will generally greatly boost the local economy.
A web of real-world and digital relationships among participating people, from which new personal friendships, collaborations, careers, projects and startups will emerge. This will also echo in strong Lanzarote media presence, especially social media, expose local businesses to new connections, and will generally greatly boost the local economy.
¶ Visionary:
We have recognized Lanzarote has a tradition of being able to step ahead and make excellent and solid decisions about its future - as reflected in the Biosfera status, or more recently, standing against Repsol. Through the tradition of Cesar Manrique’s unique and powerful urbanistic vision, we wish to maintain this nature-civilization coexistence. We believe this vision was laid out as a guiding star, and that we should keep developing it with means of clean, creative, modern practices of the 21 st century. This convinced and inspired us to start working on this island of all others, and we believe Manrique would support such an idea.
We have recognized Lanzarote has a tradition of being able to step ahead and make excellent and solid decisions about its future - as reflected in the Biosfera status, or more recently, standing against Repsol. Through the tradition of Cesar Manrique’s unique and powerful urbanistic vision, we wish to maintain this nature-civilization coexistence. We believe this vision was laid out as a guiding star, and that we should keep developing it with means of clean, creative, modern practices of the 21 st century. This convinced and inspired us to start working on this island of all others, and we believe Manrique would support such an idea.
¶ Natural:
Lanzarote’s well proven attraction of the weather and ocean, possibility for sport, etc., is perfect for these industries. Especially during the winter, the natural conditions for creative work could hardly be better anywhere else in the EU. The great climate is widely recognised as one of the main historical reasons for San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, the world’s biggest technological cluster. With the trend of increasing freedom of work mobility, Lanzarote could establish itself as EU’s “winter residence” technological hub.
Lanzarote’s well proven attraction of the weather and ocean, possibility for sport, etc., is perfect for these industries. Especially during the winter, the natural conditions for creative work could hardly be better anywhere else in the EU. The great climate is widely recognised as one of the main historical reasons for San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, the world’s biggest technological cluster. With the trend of increasing freedom of work mobility, Lanzarote could establish itself as EU’s “winter residence” technological hub.
¶ There is an opening in EU for a unique brand: the “innovator’s destination”:
Innovation is, at the moment, at the center of European Union’s focus. With the combination of climate, amazing volcanic landscapes, existing infrastructure for travel, activities, and affordable & quality lifestyle, we chose Lanzarote as our first candidate with our project, facilitating exciting new options for professional work in the innovation-creative industries.
Innovation is, at the moment, at the center of European Union’s focus. With the combination of climate, amazing volcanic landscapes, existing infrastructure for travel, activities, and affordable & quality lifestyle, we chose Lanzarote as our first candidate with our project, facilitating exciting new options for professional work in the innovation-creative industries.
¶Basic fields of work
At CHT#1, we are already running activities (stages: planning, researching, prototyping, developing, establishing connections with partners, and deploying solutions) in a large variety of fields:
At CHT#1, we are already running activities (stages: planning, researching, prototyping, developing, establishing connections with partners, and deploying solutions) in a large variety of fields:
¶ ● ICT (information-communication technologies):
idea organisation software; long-distance high speed wireless internet communications; sensor networks, Internet of things; microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi); intelligent houses; “Quantified Self”; open data, data visualization, APIs; ...
idea organisation software; long-distance high speed wireless internet communications; sensor networks, Internet of things; microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi); intelligent houses; “Quantified Self”; open data, data visualization, APIs; ...
¶ ● Promotion of novel social & business practices:
co-working; artist & technologist residence stays; “startup” companies (lean, agile, venture capital based, ...); social enterprises; co-operatives; time banks; crowd-funding; the sharing economy; ...
co-working; artist & technologist residence stays; “startup” companies (lean, agile, venture capital based, ...); social enterprises; co-operatives; time banks; crowd-funding; the sharing economy; ...
¶ ● Optimisation of agriculture on Lanzarote, with a goal of severely improving land utilisation - “The Thriving Island”:
sensor-assisted smart farming technologies, irrigation, ... (E-Agriculture); mapping & geopositioning; alternative semi-arid crop sorts (like Moringa Oleifera); seed banks; permaculture, urban & vertical farming; CSA (community-supported agriculture)
sensor-assisted smart farming technologies, irrigation, ... (E-Agriculture); mapping & geopositioning; alternative semi-arid crop sorts (like Moringa Oleifera); seed banks; permaculture, urban & vertical farming; CSA (community-supported agriculture)
¶ ● Promotion and education of Home sustainable energy solutions.
Become a trend leader, not follower: electric motors, bikes, boats; smart grids; ...
Become a trend leader, not follower: electric motors, bikes, boats; smart grids; ...
¶ ● Travel & tourism:
research & promotion of new approaches (internet, social media); focus research to investigate & consult on new ways of travel, especially youth (Couchsurfing, AirBnb, ride sharing, trekking...); investigate & promote cost-efficient and alternative methods to bring in more young “nomad professionals” to stay & work the island
research & promotion of new approaches (internet, social media); focus research to investigate & consult on new ways of travel, especially youth (Couchsurfing, AirBnb, ride sharing, trekking...); investigate & promote cost-efficient and alternative methods to bring in more young “nomad professionals” to stay & work the island
¶ ● Testing and collecting specific technologies for sports:
naval sensors; trekking geo-positioning and mobile applications; powering & improving event organisation for specific cohesive visitor groups, for example surfers
naval sensors; trekking geo-positioning and mobile applications; powering & improving event organisation for specific cohesive visitor groups, for example surfers
¶ ● Humanities; creative & cultural industries:
(ecology, economics, sociodynamics, architecture, industrial design, media art, literature, music recording studio, ...)
(ecology, economics, sociodynamics, architecture, industrial design, media art, literature, music recording studio, ...)
¶ Short term (2013):
● with your help, open a new open lab-residence location in Lanzarote
● present 5 selected, seed-stage company ready prototype projects to the public
● launch an open website with complete project outlines & vision (~250 A4 pages)
● reach top technology press (TechCrunch, Wired, Hacker news, ...), with 10 million+ readers
● start a local community; establish a bi-weekly technological event with 15 people in attendance
● organize the first of bi-yearly Congress with 50 visitors, and exponential growth
● get accepted into ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs) and other associations
● bring 20 project residents on the island for > one month
● secure funds from all: EU grant, multinational sponsor company, angel investor, crowd-funding
● with your help, open a new open lab-residence location in Lanzarote
● present 5 selected, seed-stage company ready prototype projects to the public
● launch an open website with complete project outlines & vision (~250 A4 pages)
● reach top technology press (TechCrunch, Wired, Hacker news, ...), with 10 million+ readers
● start a local community; establish a bi-weekly technological event with 15 people in attendance
● organize the first of bi-yearly Congress with 50 visitors, and exponential growth
● get accepted into ENoLL (European Network of Living Labs) and other associations
● bring 20 project residents on the island for > one month
● secure funds from all: EU grant, multinational sponsor company, angel investor, crowd-funding
¶ Long term:
● make Lanzarote the go-to European Union place for professional nomads
● triple the agricultural output of Lanzarote
● establish an incubator complex for startup activity on Lanzarote
● help Lanzarote to reach & surpass EU average for ICT university enrollment
● help secure the first A-round venture capital investment for a local ICT startup
● boost the local economy to reach EU average of 10% employed in Creative industries
● double the number of our CHT residences in EU every year (next: London, Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona, Lisbon, Ljubljana, ...)
We sincerely hope You can help us make this idea thrive in Lanzarote as a partner, committing space, support, and other available resources - for future benefit of the people of Lanzarote, Islas Canarias, Spain, and the EU.
● make Lanzarote the go-to European Union place for professional nomads
● triple the agricultural output of Lanzarote
● establish an incubator complex for startup activity on Lanzarote
● help Lanzarote to reach & surpass EU average for ICT university enrollment
● help secure the first A-round venture capital investment for a local ICT startup
● boost the local economy to reach EU average of 10% employed in Creative industries
● double the number of our CHT residences in EU every year (next: London, Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona, Lisbon, Ljubljana, ...)
We sincerely hope You can help us make this idea thrive in Lanzarote as a partner, committing space, support, and other available resources - for future benefit of the people of Lanzarote, Islas Canarias, Spain, and the EU.
¶ David (26):
has 10 years of experience in the ICT industry, mostly working on complex system design, mobile, and intelligent computing. He has been involved since the seed stage with a startup company winning Europe’s most prominent Seedcamp competition in 2007, and had later secured over 5 mil. € in venture capital. His company, middlemachine, is incubated in Slovenia’s prestigious Technology Park Ljubljana, has won a Seedcamp installment in 2010, and is receiving an EU hi-technology development grant.
He has first visited Lanzarote in 2010, and has lived here since december 2011.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpotocnik
has 10 years of experience in the ICT industry, mostly working on complex system design, mobile, and intelligent computing. He has been involved since the seed stage with a startup company winning Europe’s most prominent Seedcamp competition in 2007, and had later secured over 5 mil. € in venture capital. His company, middlemachine, is incubated in Slovenia’s prestigious Technology Park Ljubljana, has won a Seedcamp installment in 2010, and is receiving an EU hi-technology development grant.
He has first visited Lanzarote in 2010, and has lived here since december 2011.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpotocnik
¶ Goran (26):
is a Philosophy graduate at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), the alma mater of Slavoj Žižek, and has also studied at the University of Vienna. He has been working for years as a political journalist with the legendary student media Radio Student, one of Europe's oldest and strongest non-commercial, alternative urban radio stations, and the experimental monthly Tribuna. His other interests include hypermedia, data visualization, and productive intersections of philosophy and computer science.
He plans on continuing studies in the field of Artificial intelligence in London’s Goldsmiths University in fall 2013.
is a Philosophy graduate at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), the alma mater of Slavoj Žižek, and has also studied at the University of Vienna. He has been working for years as a political journalist with the legendary student media Radio Student, one of Europe's oldest and strongest non-commercial, alternative urban radio stations, and the experimental monthly Tribuna. His other interests include hypermedia, data visualization, and productive intersections of philosophy and computer science.
He plans on continuing studies in the field of Artificial intelligence in London’s Goldsmiths University in fall 2013.
¶ Hana (31):
is a Sociology/Social informatics graduate at the University of Ljubljana, having 10 years of working experiences in methodology research techniques and advanced statistical analysis. From 2009 she has lectured at Slovenian and foreign universities. She collaborates with academics in writing scientific papers in different fields of social and natural science. She is a co-founder of a company working on diverse social-research projects, renewable energy projects (some supported by EU funds), and running the Institute for the sustainable development of local communities. She is also recognized as an artist - writer and a film maker.
is a Sociology/Social informatics graduate at the University of Ljubljana, having 10 years of working experiences in methodology research techniques and advanced statistical analysis. From 2009 she has lectured at Slovenian and foreign universities. She collaborates with academics in writing scientific papers in different fields of social and natural science. She is a co-founder of a company working on diverse social-research projects, renewable energy projects (some supported by EU funds), and running the Institute for the sustainable development of local communities. She is also recognized as an artist - writer and a film maker.