We’ve just wrapped up five days filled with ideas, exchanges, and genuine FabLab community spirit.
FabX 2026 marked the end of a special week at the HRW FabLab. Together with the RUB Makerspace, we created a European alternative to Fab26 in Boston - which was taking place at the same time - as part of our Fab.Future Ruhr project. What remains are not only exciting projects and new ideas, but above all, many inspiring encounters.
In total, we welcomed around 50 participants from Europe and Japan. Right from the moment we first met, the atmosphere was marked by openness, curiosity, and mutual interest. Within no time at all, conversations about projects, machines, and ideas emerged, leading to joint workshops, spontaneous problem-solving, and new collaborations.
Whether soldering together, working on the CNC, chatting between workshops, or working on their own projects: everywhere you looked, you could feel what sets the FabLab community apart. Ideas were spontaneously developed further, experiences were shared, and challenges were solved together. The focus was on the joy of learning from one another and developing new solutions together.
Another special highlight was our joint visit to the RUB Makerspace. The tour of the workshops, the joint public viewing of Fab26, and the personal exchanges further strengthened our international network and demonstrated just how closely connected the global maker community is.
Another highlight of the week was our own Fab Academy graduation at the HRW FabLab. Together, we celebrated the participants’ successful completion of the program and presented their certificates in the presence of the international FabX community. A special moment was the live broadcast to Boston, which made our graduation part of the official Fab26 program. This allowed the graduates in Bottrop to be celebrated alongside the global FabLab community. This is a wonderful sign that the FabLab community is closely connected even across continents.
For us, FabX was much more than just a week of events. It demonstrated how important it is to have places where people can come together, share ideas, and shape innovation collaboratively. That is exactly what we aim to promote in the long term with Fab.Future Ruhr. Our goal is to sustainably strengthen the maker scene in the Ruhr region, expand international collaborations, and further intensify the exchange between FabLabs, makerspaces, and universities.
A heartfelt thank you to all participants, partners, and supporters who made this week so special with their openness, dedication, and enthusiasm. We’re taking away many new ideas, connections, and sources of inspiration, and we look forward to continuing the relationships we’ve built even beyond FabX.
