Enabling of local value creation via openness for emergent synthesis

Abstract

To increase rationally demanded sustainability with its ecologic, environmental and social dimensions, innovative technology shall be exploited. How to transform such technologies into useful application depends on the respective situations and local conditions. Supporting market dynamics with collaboration and competition, local material cycles and generation of wealth are criteria, on how to evaluate if an application is appropriate. Hypothesis is that local actions among many people may make a big difference globally in the sense of Emergent Synthesis. A key element is a transition of people from passive recipients to active creators in developed and developing regions. In this paper, the idea of local value creation is combined with knowledge transfer about sustainable manufacturing into the layers invention, mediation and diffusion. Invention, the technological layer, addresses different aspect of manufacturing and is realized within a prototype with easy to use equipment. Mediation, the teaching layer, shall enable users to understand and possibly improve selected manufacturing as well as recycling technologies. To address local communities in a global context, the diffusion layer addresses sharing innovative ideas via internet for all interested people via open access. All three layers and practical experiences with two prototypes are presented within this paper.