Challenges and opportunities of maker culture for the digitalization of Spanish society

Abstract

The popularization of the "maker culture" has facilitated the emergence of various spaces worldwide that facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and skills associated with emerging technologies. This article analyzes them with special emphasis on the Spanish territory. Focusing on two institutionalization examples of this type of spaces (Ikaslab Sarea and Xarxa d'Ateneus de Fabricació), we explore the opportunities and challenges they present for citizen empowerment. We argue that the institutionalization of these spaces should move away from technocentric approaches and bet on a model based on the development of skills, values and experiences that contribute to a responsible digitization.