Zakoth, D., Mauroner, O., & Emes, J. (2024). The role of makerspaces in innovation processes: An exploratory study. R&D Management, 54(2), 398–428.

Summary

This exploratory study by Zakoth, Mauroner, and Emes investigates how different makerspace users leverage the spaces' resources and innovation strategies. Using the resource-based view and open innovation as lenses, the research analyzed 10 innovation projects within a specialized photonics makerspace, differentiating between hobby and professional user groups. The findings reveal that makerspaces play a vital role in democratizing access to technology, knowledge, social, and financial resources, but their effectiveness depends on the user.

Makerspaces adopt two distinct roles: an incubator for hobby users and a facilitator for professionals. Hobbyists leverage the space long-term as an incubator for community-driven, open-source development, using inbound strategies to attract contributors. Professionals use the space as a facilitator for short, targeted development of closed-source, commercial ideas before quickly shifting to external, coupled partnerships for manufacturing and distribution. The study concludes that makerspaces' full potential is realized through this differentiated resource provision, which supports a wide array of innovations beyond just formal entrepreneurship.

5 Key Findings

1. Democratization of Innovation Resources: Makerspaces are crucial because they democratize access to technology, knowledge, social, and financial resources for individuals who are otherwise resource-constrained, thereby improving the chances for innovation and entrepreneurship.

2. Dual Roles for Different Innovators (Facilitator vs. Incubator): Makerspaces effectively support different user needs by adopting two roles. They act as a facilitator for professionals (providing targeted resources for early-stage prototyping) and as an incubator for hobbyists (providing long-term resources and community to nurture project growth).

3. Technology Access Drives Complex Projects: Specialized makerspaces, like the one focusing on photonics in the study, are important because they offer advanced and often high-cost technologies that attract more complex, industry-relevant projects, which would be inaccessible otherwise.

4. Innovation Strategies are Tied to Project Goals: Makerspaces serve as hubs for open innovation. Hobbyists use an open-source approach (free revealing) to attract collaborators and diffuse their innovations into the community. Professionals use a closed-source approach (selective revealing) to protect intellectual property and manage commercialization.

5. Social Value And Entrepreneurial Outcomes: The importance of a makerspace is not solely defined by the number of startups it generates. It produces high social value by supporting diverse outcomes, including open-source and freely-shared innovations, which are vital for technology transition and public welfare, such as during crisis response.