Maker movement contribution to fighting COVID‐19 pandemic: insights from Tunisian FabLabs

Wyssal Abbassi, Aida Harmel, Wafa Belkahla and Helmi Ben Rejeb ()
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Wyssal Abbassi: UTM - Tunis El Manar University [University of Tunis El Manar] [Tunisia] = Université de Tunis El Manar [Tunisie] = جامعة تونس المنار (ar)
Aida Harmel: UTM - Tunis El Manar University [University of Tunis El Manar] [Tunisia] = Université de Tunis El Manar [Tunisie] = جامعة تونس المنار (ar)
Wafa Belkahla: ENIT - National Engineering School of Tunis [Tunis El Manar University] = École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tunis [Université de Tunis – El Manar] - UTM - Tunis El Manar University [University of Tunis El Manar] [Tunisia] = Université de Tunis El Manar [Tunisie] = جامعة تونس المنار (ar)
Helmi Ben Rejeb: UTM - Tunis El Manar University [University of Tunis El Manar] [Tunisia] = Université de Tunis El Manar [Tunisie] = جامعة تونس المنار (ar), G-SCOP_CPP - Conception Produit Process - G-SCOP - Laboratoire des sciences pour la conception, l'optimisation et la production - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - Grenoble INP - Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes

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Abstract: COVID-19 is an unexpected and brutal pandemic that requires new innovation models to overcome the constraints of this crisis and address its multiple challenges. Open innovation does not replace a traditional closed R&D model; but in the current crisis situation, it can support an ecosystem stakeholders' effort by leveraging several collaborations. Based on the Tunisian experience, this study illustrates how a crisis can spontaneously create these collaborations between the maker's community, the users (public healthcare professionals) and key stakeholders (universities, civil society and the private sector among others). To investigate this research question, we adopted a qualitative approach based on a single embedded case study and collected data through participant observation technique. The case study describes a process of crisis-driven innovation based on 3D printing technologies in order to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare professionals. It highlights two distinct phases describing the evolution from a local collaborative model to the creation of a national ecosystem able to design, manufacture and address the growing need of the public healthcare system. Our findings show with empirical evidence the crucial roles played by the makers' community, FabLabs and engineers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This study draws lessons on how a large health crisis can trigger national crisis-driven innovation (CDI) initiatives, which helped structure the makers' network and promote collaboration towards a common national goal. A collaborative framework for CDI initiated by the Tunisian makers' community is proposed in this study and could be adopted in similar crisis contexts, in Global South and North settings.

Keywords: Global South; FabLab; makers; open innovation; 3D technology; Crisis-driven innovation; Global South COVID-19; participant-observation; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-09-05
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03396883v1
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Published in R&D Management, 2021, 52 (2), pp.343-355. ⟨10.1111/radm.12503⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03396883

DOI: 10.1111/radm.12503

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