[PRE-EVENTS]
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET BEFORE 2025
In order to prepare the most amazing and fun FABx conference, we decided to organise a series of 3 events in the time leading up to the main event in 2025. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet face to face after a while (we all know why), identify the current critical issues for European FabLabs, discuss how we can work together, meet new friends and partners, have fun together and discover new places! We know that we are organising the main event for you and we want to get you involved. Are you with us?
PRAGUE, 2.–3. 6. 2022
BRNO, 29.–31. 3. 2023
TBA, 2024
The pre-events are hosted by the FAB2025.CZ team consisting of 6 people from 3 organizations – Jan, Tomas and Sonia from FabLab Brno, Dan and Vojta from Make More and Ondra from PrusaLab. The events are by invitation only. However, if you haven’t recieved your invitation and would like to come, don’t hesitate to let us know!
BRNO 2023
The second pre-event will take place in the beautiful city of Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic and home to the first Czech FabLab, FabLab Brno. Known for its rich culture and modern culinary scene, Brno has been ranked by Time Out magazine as the second most attractive city in Europe for 2021. With its prime location, it’s easily accessible from the capitals of the surrounding countries. So while you’re here, make sure you explore the city – with a great café or bar on almost every corner, you’ll have a great time during your stay.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This time it is all about coming together to plan and shape the main FABx event in 2025. We want you to have your say on how the event should look, and we’ll also be exploring the opportunities we can take advantage of. But it won’t be all work and no play – we’ll be visiting local FabLab, meeting local makers, having a fuckup & bigup night, trying different beers and more. Check out the detailed schedule below.
The pre-event will take place over three days, starting on Wednesday 29 March 2023 at 16:00 CET and ending with a late night after-party on Friday 31 March. There’s no need to buy a ticket – it’s free for invited makerspaces and initiatives. We’ll also be providing food and drink, but you’ll need to arrange your own transport and accommodation. The event will take place at the creative hub KUMST, which also has a newly opened FabLab space dedicated to creative artists.
WEDNESDAY 29. 3.
VENUE: KUMST (LOCATION LINK)
PROGRAM: 16:00 TO 22:00 CET
PROVIDED: DINNER, DRINKS
We will start the event in the afternoon at the local creative hub KUMST – our base for the entire event. The first day will focus on building team spirit and networking.
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16:00 | ARRIVAL & REGISTRATION
[15 min] You will be greeted by the hosts and given your welcome pack and name badge. Please arrive shortly before 16:00 or on time.
16:15 | OFFICIAL LAUNCH & WARM-UP
[45 min] We’ll kick off the event with a welcome speech and then get to know each other better with some ice-breakers. Let’s break that ice and introduce ourselves!
17:00 | MAKING LOCAL WITH LOCALS
[120 min] Get ready for a hands-on workshop led by talented local makers! Let’s unleash your inner creativity, learn something new, get inspired by others, and most importantly, have fun.
19:00 | DINNER + EVENING MIX & MINGLE
[180 min] Connect with fellow makers, exchange innovative ideas, and draw inspiration from the thriving maker community – all while savoring your favorite drink and indulging in delectable bites.
THURSDAY 30. 3.
VENUES: KUMST (LOCATION LINK)
PROGRAM: 09:00 TO 22:00 CET
PROVIDED: COFFEE BREAKS, LUNCH, DINNER, DRINKS
The second day we’ll focus on what’s arguably the most crucial aspect of the FAB2025.CZ main event – the programme. Together, we will dive into how the programme should be designed.
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9:00 | START OF THE DAY
[10 min] We will start the second day. Get our expectations in order and you will hear block by block what will happen throughout the day.
9:10 | RISE AND SHINE TALK
[30 min] Ready to start the day off right? We will hear a short motivational and inspirational talk from a surprise guest.
9:40 | PROGRAM DESIGN INTRODUCTION
[35 min] A recap of where we left off at the 1st pre-event and the launch of the programme design workshops.
10:15 | COFFEE BREAK
[15 min] Recharging our batteries with hot and cold refreshments and something to nibble on.
10:30 | PROGRAMME DESIGN WORKSHOP I
[90 min] Creating the FAB2025.CZ programme together!
12:00 | LUNCH
[60 min] Take a break from the action, enjoy a delicious meal and network with other FabLab enthusiasts. We’ll have a variety of food options to (hopefully) suit all tastes and dietary requirements.
13:00 | PROGRAMME DESIGN WORKSHOP II
[45 min] Creating the FAB2025.CZ programme together!
13:45 | PROGRAMME DESIGN WORKSHOP III
[45 min] Creating the FAB2025.CZ programme together!
14:30 | FAB2025.CZ BRNO WALK
[90 min] Get ready for a walk through the centre of Brno with some super interesting stops along the way. Plus an opportunity to enjoy a delicious coffee.
16:00 | KUMST GUIDED TOUR
[20 min] All about creative hub KUMST in 20 minutes.
16:20 | WELCOMING NEW LABS
[40 min] Introduction of new labs.
17:00 | FUCKUP or BIGUP NIGHT
[90 min] You will have the chance to share your worst or best work or other adventures with others.
18:00 | DINNER
[60 min]
19:00 | SIP AND SOCIALIZE
[180+ min] Relax, food, beer, friends & fun vol. 1.
FRIDAY 31. 3.
VENUES: FABLAB BRNO (LOCATION LINK), KUMST (LOCATION LINK)
PROGRAM: 09:00 TO 22:00 CET
PROVIDED: COFFEE BREAKS, LUNCH, DINNER, DRINKS
The third day we’ll focus on the practical side of the FAB2025.CZ main event – the production. Also, we will get some fresh news from the maker world.
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9:00 | START OF THE DAY @ FABLAB BRNO
[15 min] We will start the third day directly at FabLab Brno. You’ll be given all the instructions you need the day before. Again, there will be a block-by-block explanation of what will be happening during the day.
9:15 | FABLAB BRNO & JIC TOUR
[60 min] We will be more than happy to show you around FabLab Brno. You can ask anything.
10:15 | COFFEE BREAK
[15 min] Recharging our batteries with hot and cold refreshments and something to nibble on.
10:30 | FAB2025.CZ PRODUCTION INTRO
[60 min] We will look at the practical side of organising the conference. We would like to introduce you to our concept and get your feedback.
11:30 | LUNCH
[60 min] Take a break from the action, enjoy a delicious meal and network with other FabLab enthusiasts. We’ll have a variety of food options to (hopefully) suit all tastes and dietary requirements.
12:30 | BACK TO CITY CENTRE
[60 min] Together we take tram 12 back to KUMST.
13:30 | FAB2025.CZ PRODUCTION FEEDBACK
[60 min] We would like to receive your feedback on specific aspects of the production part of the FAB2025.CZ main event.
14:30 | COFFEE BREAK
[30 min] Recharging our batteries with hot and cold refreshments and something to nibble on.
15:00 | NEWS FROM THE MAKER WORLD
[60 min] Let’s find out what the hottest news from the maker scene is.
16:00 | PRE-EVENT CLOSURE
[45 min] Before we say goodbye, join us for a wrap-up session to reflect on the highlights of the event, share your experiences with other attendees and give feedback to the organisers.
16:45 | DINNER
[75 min] We will have a feast together once again.
18:00 | FAB BEER QUIZ
[90 min] The opportunity to taste samples of both local and international beers. And compete in knowledge contest to win cool prices!
19:30 | FAREWELL PARTY
[120+ min] Relax, food, beer, friends & fun vol. 2.
WHO IS COMING?
We’re excited to bring together over 20 makerspaces and initiatives from across Europe for this pre-event. To keep things small, we’ve invited a maximum of 2 people per organisation. Our aim is to create a friendly and open atmosphere where everyone can get to know each other and build trust. You can see below who has confirmed their attendance. We’re looking forward to a great event and meeting everyone!
Tom, Jan, Sonia & Adela
(CZE)
Dan, Vojta & Veronika
(CZE)
Ondra, Tereza, Antonin & Leos
(CZE)
Marc
(BEL)
David
(HUN)
Constance
(FRA)
David
(CZE)
Eva & Jozef
(SVK)
FabLab Amsterdam / waag
(NLD)
Maik & Max
(GER)
Max
(GER)
Luc & Nicolas
(FRA)
Martin & Veronika
(CZE)
Karsten
(GER)
Patrik & Jakub
(CZE)
Jean-Michel
(FRA)
Daniel
(ESP)
Martina & Jan
(CZE)
Rene
(CZE)
Peter & Ilona
(CZE)
Sarka
(CZE)
Karim & Roland
(AUT)
PRE-EVENT GUIDE
To make your life easier, we have prepared some practical information about accommodation, transport to Brno, food and sightseeing in the city. We had a great response to this guide for the last pre-event, so we hope you will enjoy these tips too!
VENUES
KUMST
FABLAB BRNO
WHERE TO SLEEP?
We hope your stay during the pre-event will be comfortable and easy-going. To help you a bit with finding a place to stay, we picked a few possible options for you. These should be both affordable and close to the venues of the pre-event. Note we have no affiliation with the hotels, they're just selected tips. If you don't choose from these, we suggest using Booking.com or Airbnb. If you needed any assistance with the accommodation booking or similar, don't hesitate to contact us!
JACOB BRNO
- CENTRAL LOCATION, GREAT RATING (BOOKING LINK)
- 10 MIN WALKING FROM THE VENUE (LOCATION LINK)
GRANDEZZA HOTEL
- 5-STARS (BOOKING LINK)
- 14 MIN WALKING FROM THE VENUE (LOCATION LINK)
HOSTEL ELEVEN
- RANGES FROM SHARED ROOMS TO STUDIOS (BOOKING LINK)
- 11 MIN WALKING FROM THE VENUE (LOCATION LINK)
GETTING TO AND AROUND BRNO
We know the pain of finding out all the information on how to travel in the city, that you have never been before. That's why we prepared little and up-to-date overview below.
TO BRNO
You can get to Brno easily by international coach, train or car. The most important traffic hubs in Brno are Railway station Brno hl.n. and Brno, Benešova tř.hotel GRAND bus terminal. These have direct connections to all parts of the city and provide standard services. Brno has an airport, but it has just a few connecting flights. The easiest way how to arrive by plane is to fly to Vienna International Airport and then to take a train or coach to Brno (around 2 hours). Similarly you can fly to Prague International Airport. We recommend to use one of the following services:
Gepard Express – To come from Vienna airport.
Regiojet – To come from anywhere in Europe by bus, by train from Prague or by train/bus from Vienna airport.
Flixbus – To come from anywhere in Europe by bus, by train from Prague or by train/bus from Vienna airport.
If you decide to come by car it might be a bit complicated to find long-term parking spot – the city is divided into several parking zones. You can find the information in English on this matter here. We definitely recommend getting around the city using public transport.
AROUND BRNO
The public transport is really good, usually goes on time and you can easily get around with trams, buses or trolley buses. If you stay central, it's easiest to just walk.
Buying tickets in the public transport is really simple. You can buy the tickets contactless by your phone or card on the terminals directly inside trams or buses. You basically get in, "beep" on the terminal and that's it. If you change the line, you "beep" again. The system automatically counts the best ticket option for you after the whole day of travel. You can check it out in detail here. You can also buy traditional tickets, but who would bother, right?
There is also a possibility to use shared bikes e.g. Rekola or Nextbike or shared electric scooters e.g. Lime or Bolt.
If you prefer going by taxi, we recommend using app Liftago or Bolt. If you use these, there is no ripoff guarantee. Don't just take taxi on the street, it might be unnecessarily expensive.
EAT, DRINK, ENJOY
Keeping your levels of hunger and thirst on the positive side is always a good idea, doesn't matter where you go. We have carefully selected several tips to satisfy all of your taste buds! Guaranteed by the locals. There are nearly no culinary tourist traps in Brno. You can also use apps like Wolt or Bolt in Brno for food delivery.
DRINK COFFEE
If you're interested in coffee, the best guide is from another Czech project called "European Coffee Trip". Check out this link. Also available throught mobile app.
DRINK BEER
Czech beer is famous all around the world – in Brno, there are lots of places to choose from. Taste it all (responsibly and with care).
DRINK COCTAILS
Brno has a really cool bar scene. Firstly started with "Bar which doesn't exist", you can definitely find the best coctails in the whole country here.
EAT SNACKS
If you want to grab just something for breakfast or snack, check out these places.
EAT TRADITIONAL
If you want to try traditional Czech cuisine, you won't be disappointed here.
EAT MODERN
If you like to eat international, you can try one of these cool places.
THINGS TO SEE & DO
We highly recommend you to stay for the weekend after the pre-event. Brno is a wonderful lively city with a plenty of opportunities to do and see. We bet just a weekend won't be enough. If you want to go through an official guide, you can check it out via the GOTOBRNO website.
VILA TUGENDHAT
UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS
Credits: www.gotobrno.cz.
BRNO OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM
BRNO CITY CENTRE
BIG THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Without people and companies who have our backs, organising this pre-event would be really hard. Thanks to them we will have an accessible event in great venues and a super packed programme. Thank you all!
SUPPORTED BY
HOSTED BY
FAQ
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WHAT IS PROVIDED FOR THE ATTENDEES?
The admission to the event, coffee breaks, food during the programme (see schedule) and beer, wine and soft drink during evenings. The transport to Brno, accomodation and transport around the city is paid by you and is up to your consideration.
DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING?
Just your phone & good mood
ARE THERE ANY COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS?
At the moment (06/01/2023), all the pandemic restriction in the Czech Republic were cancelled. You don’t have to show any form of green pas or wear a protective mask. We won’t be checking green passes, but if you feel unwell, please stay at home.
DO I NEED VISA IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC?
If you have a citizenship of a country, which is a member of the Schengen area, you need just an ID card. If not, please check the necessary visa you need here.