Innovative Making Lab at TU Berlin: Open hardware for everyone!

Innovative Making Lab at TU Berlin: Open hardware for everyone!

Since April 28, 2025, Berlin researchers and students have had the opportunity to develop innovative prototypes for open hardware solutions in the newly opened Making Lab at the Technical University of Berlin. This exciting project is part of the Open.Make initiative, which was launched by the Berlin University Alliance. Located in the heart of the University Library, the Making Lab provides access to a variety of tools including CNC routers, 3D printers, laser cutters, as well as wood and metalworking facilities and a soldering station.

The promotion of free knowledge is intended to stimulate scientific innovation. The relevance of open source hardware (OSH) is particularly emphasized, which can make a valuable contribution to the research landscape through its transparency and reproducibility. The Making Lab is led by Dr. Robert Mies and Dr. Julien Colomb from the Department of Quality Science at TU Berlin is in charge and is open to all projects within the Berlin university landscape, with members of the BUA partner institutions having priority.

Community project with a future

Open.Make aims to establish methods, guidelines and standards for the development and release of open hardware in an academic context. The project, which is led by professors from several important Berlin universities, extends over several phases. The first project phase, which ran from September 2021 to December 2023, has already developed initial documentation approaches. The project then moves seamlessly into the second phase, “Open.Make II”, which is scheduled to run from September 2023 to June 2026. Project leaders include Prof. Dr.-Ing. Roland Jochem from the Technical University of Berlin and Prof. Dr. med. Petra Ritter from the Charité.

One of the central requirements for using the Making Lab is that the hardware solutions developed must be documented and shared as open hardware. Regular support for users takes place every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of public holidays. Creating a community of research hardware developers in the BUA space is an important part of the Open.Make initiative.

Open hardware in times of crisis

The importance of open source hardware has become particularly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is where 3D printing played a crucial role in enabling the production of face shields to fill an important production gap for medical workers. The open hardware concept applies the principles of open source software to physical products, enabling easy duplication and quality control while promoting social and economic innovation.

Makerspaces, like the Making Lab, are central places for collaborative learning and experimentation. They bring together people from different backgrounds and provide access to free, open source software and hardware, breaking down financial barriers to accessing the maker movement. Examples of such technologies include the RepRap 3D printer and Arduino microcontroller, whose flexible and customizable designs stimulate innovation and creativity.

In this creative environment, users not only have tools at their disposal, but also countless opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The challenges associated with the use of open source hardware and software, such as complexity and lack of documentation, are being actively addressed by the community. The future prospects of this movement show potential for integrating new technologies such as artificial intelligence and promoting citizen science.