by Lemuel Clark Velasco
In a country with recent implementation of STEM education and current development of cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing, FAB LABs play an important role in the integration of ideas and technology to instigate local growth. It is in this belief that FAB LAB Mindanao facilitated the FAB 4.0 STEM Project of the American Spaces Philippines of the U.S. Embassy to implement programs on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with Industry 4.0 applications. Last May 27-31, 2019, the FAB 4.0 STEM Project trained 17 maker teams from Animo Labs of De La Salle University and 23 public school teachers from Region 1 in coordination with FAB LAB Ilocos of the Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus. The program focused on ideation and prototyping sessions for outputs involving 3D printing and Internet of Things. Along with this, the American Spaces Philippines also implemented Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Camps on the MITx Iterative Innovation Process by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and EDx to these FAB LABs including CIT-U Makerspace of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, LIKHA FAB LAB of the Batangas State University and FAB LAB Mindanao with 15 MOOC graduates in MSU-IIT. As the fourth industrial revolution changes the way enterprises deliver products and services, FAB LABs continue to perform its significant role in being innovation centers that drives and enables access and skills for an Industry 4.0 ready Philippines.