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.

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.

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.