When did you start to collaborate with Aalto University? Who initiated this visit?
We contacted Aalto University`s FabLab last month. Charlie Bantropom, researcher of the lab, answered our e-mail and then we fixed a meeting. We are also going to visit fablabs in Vienna and Brussels. ITMO University FabLab is a member of International Fab Lab Association. That is why such contacts are necessary for us. We were happy to be invited by Finnish colleagues. Furthermore 5-100 Academic Excellence Program supported this visit.
Which of your projects was the most interesting for Finnish colleagues?
We presented several projects. The “like counter” impressed them more than others! Despite of the fact that an idea of the counter was inspired by French startup project “Smiirl,” they appreciated our device and said that they wanted to develop the same one at Aalto FabLab. We are definitely going to share our experience and help them.
Do you have common interests with Finnish experts?
It is true that many our ideas correlated. That`s why we faced with the same difficulties such as technical problems or lack of equipment when too many people want to use it. Furthermore each department of Aalto University has a unique atmosphere and design projects. Aalto Design Factory, ADDLab and Startup Sauna have their own styles. Having discussed how to optimize equipment renting we decided to work on it in alliance with our colleagues. We are going to launch a new website of ITMO University FabLab, which will contain some ideas that we invented after visiting Finland. So the premiere is drawing near!
What was the most impressive thing?
When visiting Aalto Design Factory, an experimental platform, which fused together not only equipment, but also offices of startup and incumbent companies, we found out that it was a wonderful place for creating something new. According to one of its` researchers, “it`s a place for passion.” We appreciate that Design Factory`s researchers were really kind and open! We also visited Digital Design Laboratory of Aalto University where companies that collaborate with the university develop their inventions using 3D printers and other equipment. This prototyping center is also acceptable for those students, who need its` facilities.
What practices of Finnish experts would you like to adopt?
The most interesting ideas were connected with design and arrangement of working spaces. Aalto University is famous for its` Design Department. That is why it`s very useful to adopt the experience in this field.