Abstract

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□ A changing economy means the way that China makes things has to change – from low-cost, labour-intensive manufacturing to innovation and design-led production. For companies, makerspaces have the potential to release the creative energy of their employees.
□​ A search for innovation-led development is key to the Chinese government’s interest in makerspaces. No longer satisfied with ‘made in China, designed elsewhere’, the government hopes that makerspaces can help foster grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship.
□​ Makerspaces represent a desire for radical reform of the education system. An innovation-led economy requires more creativity and problem-solving skills. For schools and universities, makerspaces represent a way to bring creativity and hands-on, project-based learning into China’s education system.
□​ China’s urban middle class are looking to reconnect with craft, just like their western peers. While manufacturing is still a major part of the Chinese economy, millions of young Chinese graduates will never need to work with their hands. For them, makerspaces reflect a desire to be creative and make physical objects.
□​ China’s makerspaces face a range of challenges:
a. Funding: half the makerspaces surveyed highlighted funding as an issue.
b. Membership: Maintaining membership was a major concern for many spaces.
c. Skills: New members rarely have the skills to use the tools in makerspaces, so makerspaces have to spend time and resources training them.
d. Understanding and advocacy: Few people in China understand maker culture, making it difficult to recruit people interested in making .​