Neil Gershenfeld Director of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms

Prof. Neil Gershenfeld is the Director of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, where his unique laboratory is breaking down boundaries between the digital and physical worlds, from pioneering quantum computing to digital fabrication to the Internet of Things. Technology from his lab has been seen and used in settings including New York's Museum of Modern Art and rural Indian villages, the White House and the World Economic Forum, inner-city community centers and automobile safety systems, Las Vegas shows and Sami herds.

He is the author of numerous technical publications, patents, and books including Designing Reality, Fab, When Things Start To Think, The Nature of Mathematical Modeling, and The Physics of Information Technology, and has been featured in media such as The New York Times, The Economist, NPR, CNN, and PBS. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, has been named one of Scientific American's 50 leaders in science and technology, as one of 40 Modern-Day Leonardos by the Museum of Science and Industry, one of Popular Mechanic's 25 Makers, has been selected as a CNN/Time/Fortune Principal Voice, and by Prospect/Foreign Policy as one of the top 100 public intellectuals.

He's been called the intellectual father of the maker movement, founding a growing global network of over one thousand fab labs that provide widespread access to prototype tools for personal fabrication, directing the Fab Academy for distributed research and education in the principles and practices of digital fabrication, and chairing the Fab Foundation. Dr. Gershenfeld has a BA in Physics with High Honors from Swarthmore College, a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Cornell University, honorary doctorates from Swarthmore College, Strathclyde University and the University of Antwerp, was a Junior Fellow of the Harvard University Society of Fellows, and a member of the research staff at Bell Labs.

Sherry Lassiter President & CEO, The Fab Foundation

Sherry Lassiter is one of the architects of the MIT global initiative for field on-site technology development, the Fab Lab program. A Fab Lab, or as users like to call it, fabulous laboratory, is a rapid prototyping platform for technical education, innovation, and personal expression.

The Fab Lab network includes over 2000 digital fabrication facilities in 126 countries. Lassiter is Director of the Fab Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to building technical capacity in a locality, improving individuals’ abilities to develop themselves and their communities and bringing access to tools and knowledge that cultivate and support innovating practices. After a two-decade career in science journalism as a producer, writer, and director for television series such as Scientific American Frontiers, Discover the World of Science, and The Science Times, she became a protagonist in science and technology, becoming part of the story, rather than just telling the story.

As Program Manager for the NSF-funded Center for Bits & Atoms at MIT, she has seen and enabled the personal fabrication movement as it has grown and evolved. Today she serves as Director of the global Fab Lab Program at MIT as well as leading The Fab Foundation, the non-profit spinoff from MIT. Lassiter is currently engaged in the deployment and growth of Fab Labs around the world, enabling grassroots technology development by, for and of the community.

Josef Průša Founder and CEO of Prusa Research

Josef Průša is the Founder and CEO of Prusa Research, a company that has become synonymous with cutting-edge 3D printing technology. His company produces the iconic Prusa i3 printers, celebrated for their quality, reliability, and accessibility. Průša is a key figure in the world of 3D printing and a pivotal advocate for bringing digital manufacturing tools to individuals and communities globally.

Technology from Prusa Research is found everywhere—from home workshops to educational institutions, research laboratories, and commercial manufacturing facilities. Josef Průša champions the power of open-source technologies and knowledge sharing, highlighting his commitment to innovation and his dedication to the global maker community.

His work has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including being featured in Forbes 30 Under 30. His printers have received countless awards in the tech industry, and 3D Printing Industry magazine has recognized him as one of the most influential figures in 3D printing.

In addition to leading Prusa Research, Josef actively contributes to the development of open-source software and hardware, organizes workshops, and promotes education in digital manufacturing. His vision bridges technology with sustainability, and his innovations continue to shape and inspire the global maker movement.

Massimo Banzi Co-Founder Arduino, Founder SuperModerno

Massimo Banzi is the co-founder of Arduino – an Interaction Designer, Educator, and Technologist who has helped shape the maker movement. He has worked on innovation projects for brands like Prada, Artemide, Persol, Whirlpool, and Adidas. Massimo spent four years as Associate Professor at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII), and has led workshops and spoken at institutions around the world. Before that, he was CTO at Seat Ventures and worked as a software architect in Milan and London.
He’s the author of Getting Started with Arduino (O’Reilly), and has written for Wired Italia and other publications. Massimo launched Italy’s first FabLab, leading to FabLab Torino, and was the first curator of Maker Faire Rome. Today, he teaches Interaction Design at SUPSI in Lugano and is a visiting professor at CIID in Copenhagen. In 2024, he founded SuperModerno – a platform sharing the history of technology and the people behind it.

Bas van Abel Designer & Founder Fairphone

Bas van Abel, a Dutch visionary designer and entrepreneur, stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation with his open design approach. With grit and determination, he has paved the way for the groundbreaking sustainable smartphone company Fairphone and co-founded the circular food startup De Clique.

As a passionate tinkerer, Bas firmly believes in the Maker movement's mantra: "if you can't open it, you don't own it." This kind of ownership is crucial in the cultural shift needed to address today's pressing environmental and social issues. During his time at Waag Futurelab, Bas established Fablab Amsterdam and co-authored the book "Open Design Now." In 2013, he made the bold move to spin off Fairphone as a social enterprise, aiming to revolutionize the phone industry from the inside out.

With a decade of experience as the founder and CEO of Fairphone, Bas has successfully navigated the competitive smartphone market, turning the mission-driven company into an international success story. His trailblazing efforts have earned him prestigious awards and media coverage from the likes of CNN, The New York Times, and Der Spiegel.

Dale Dougherty President, Make Community

Dale Dougherty believes that all of us are makers, and he is a champion of the people and projects that form the Maker Movement. He founded Make: magazine in 2005 and first used the term "makers" to describe people who enjoyed hands-on work and play. Often called the Father of the Maker Movement, he launched Maker Faire in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006, an event that has since spread worldwide, regularly showcasing and celebrating maker projects. He is the President of Make Community, LLC, which publishes Make: magazine and licenses Maker Faires globally.

Scotty Allen YouTube Creator and Hacker - Strange Parts

Scotty is a hacker turned storyteller who runs the YouTube channels Strange Parts and Electric Ranch. He makes videos that merge hacking, technology, and adventure, from building and modifying iPhones in the markets of Shenzhen, China, to visiting factories all over the world diving into the details of how stuff is actually made. He previously was a software engineer at Google, Ooyala, and Shopkick, before starting his own startup, AppMonsta, which he sold in 20202. Scotty was a member of the Noisebridge hackerspace in San Francisco for a number of years. He’s spent extensive time living and traveling throughout Asia, and now lives on a 100+ acre ranch in the mountains outside Denver with his dog Ambrose and his partner Katie.

Smári McCarthy Innovator, activist and Co-founder & CEO of Ecosophy

Smári McCarthy is a nice friendly hacker. He helped start the Fab Labs in Iceland and helped build a number of them around the world. Then he founded a political party, a couple of NGOs, worked with journalists on exposing massive corruption and organized crime, served in the Icelandic parliament for two terms, and then started a company that's trying to make it easier to analyze spatiotemporal data. In his free time he cooks elaborate meals, flies planes, and maintains a few free software projects.

Marleen Stikker Founder/Director of Waag Futurelab

Marleen Stikker is founder and executive director of Waag Futurelab in Amsterdam. Waag Futurelab reinforces critical reflection on technology, develops technological and social design skills, and encourages social innovation. Marleen leads the trans-disciplinary team of designers, artists and scientists, utilising Public Research and Key Enabling Methodologies to empower people to participate in the collective design of open, fair and inclusive futures. Marleen founded 'De Digitale Stad' (The Digital City) in 1993, the first virtual community introducing free public access to the Internet in Amsterdam. Marleen Stikker strongly adheres to the Maker's Bill of Rights motto: 'If You Can't Open It, You Don't Own It'.

Dave Hakkens Founder Precious Plastic

Dave Hakkens is a designer from the Netherlands. His work is centred around developing open-source projects that work on global environmental problems. Bringing people together and building communities to collaborate on these issues. With Precious Plastic he built a global community of recyclers, Projects Kamp is Researching how to live sustainable and Fixing Fashion is focussed on reducing textile waste.

Rob Postema Project Manager for Metal 3D Printer at ESA

Within the Directorate of Human and Robotics Exploration of the European Space Agency, Rob is coordinating and supporting the implementation and operation of instruments in the ESA Columbus Module of the International Space Station. As part of this role he has managed the development and operations of the Metal 3D Printer, a Technology Demonstrator that has printed the first true 3D metal sample in sustained orbit.
He has a background in aerospace engineering and management, working in different areas including development of instrumentation for microgravity research on sounding rockets and ISS, as well as the development of applications and services utilising satellite data for terrestrial use.

Tomáš Mejzlík Managing director FabLab Brno and VIDA!

Tomáš is a leader in digital fabrication, STEM education, and innovation. In 2016, he began his career at JIC in Brno, where he led the setup of the first FabLab in Czechia. Under his management, FabLab Brno launched as a 24/7 makerspace accessible to the public, businesses, and students. He spearheaded successful projects like FabLab University, a mobile lab serving thousands of students annually, and managed international collaborations, including the H2020 FabLabia. He was also a key initiator in bringing FAB25 to Czechia.

In 2025, he also became the director of VIDA! science center, with a vision to create a versatile STEM education hub that integrates making and technology popularization within its 6,000+ m² space. By 2026, VIDA! is expected to merge with FabLab Brno, combining their strengths to deliver more FUN, EDU and MAKE pleasures to hunderds of thousands people annualy.

Marc Lambaerts Manager FabLab Leuven

Marc is one of the most experienced FabLab managers in the world since he founded FabLab Leuven in 2009. From in the beginning of the Fab-movement, he saw the opportunities that came with FabLabs and started one of the biggest labs in the university of KULeuven. He specialized in the economics side of the FabLabs and is an advocate for being realistic about what a FabLab can and can't do. The economics side also took him to the entrepreneurial possibilities of the lab and since then, FabLab Leuven was the start for 30+ small companies. As a side note, he has a PhD in molecular biology and started recently a BioLab.

Simon Klinga Founder & Leader of LASAR

Simon Klinga is the founder and leader of the student team LASAR, which won over a NASA jury at the prestigious U.S. competition Conrad Challenge. In 2024, his team launched the first Czech student satellite, LASARsat, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The satellite tests the use of lasers to restart unresponsive satellites and help clean up space debris. Simon started LASAR at 16, and under his leadership the team grew from 5 to 35 members, prototyping the satellite also in FabLab Brno. He’s received the Czech Prime Minister’s Award, a Moonshot Award in New York, and a Future Port Award. In 2025, Forbes named him to its 30 Under 30 list.

Ondřej Kašpárek Head of PrusaLab

Ondřej Kašpárek is the Head of PrusaLab, one of the most advanced makerspaces in Europe, where creativity, technology, and community-driven innovation come together. In his role, he oversees the development and operations of a workshop that serves as a hub for experimentation and digital fabrication for makers, students, startups, and established companies alike.

Ondřej's work focuses on fostering innovation through shared production spaces where technologies like 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser cutting empower groundbreaking projects. His expertise spans design, prototyping, and implementing cutting-edge solutions that connect digital fabrication with practical applications.

His mission is to build bridges between technology, education, and industry while strengthening a maker community passionate about sustainable and open innovation. Under his leadership, PrusaLab has inspired countless projects, embodying the spirit of creativity and collaboration.

Roldan Descamps Co-founder, Mekanika

Roldan is an engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit. After exploring sectors as diverse as scientific research, sustainable finance and start-ups, he partnered up to co-create Mekanika and aim at opening and bringing more transparency to manufacturing. His diverse expertise combined with the deep technical skills of his co-founders helped build a unique and successful open-hardware business, growing in the heart of Europe. He is also a fine cook and a jazz enthusiast, and remains a true maker to his core, building all kind of hardware projects in his free time.