The newly released LAB881, municipal laboratory of Print 3D of ProvidenceIt has become one of the most talked-about public projects in the Chilean innovation ecosystem. Its proposal is simple yet ambitious: to make advanced digital manufacturing technology accessible to any resident, student, or entrepreneur, without economic barriers to entry.
This new space, located in the Hub Providence, it functions as a meeting point where creativity mixes, prototyping and collaborative work. The idea is that people who, under other circumstances, could not afford a 3D printer or a laser cutter, can design, experiment, and materialize their ideas in a supported and accessible environment.
A pioneering municipal laboratory open to the public
LAB881 presents itself as the First open and free municipal 3D printing lab of the country, driven by the municipality of Providencia. The project was born with a clear vocation: to democratize the use of digital manufacturing and connect citizens with technologies that until recently seemed reserved for large companies or specialized centers.
The mayor of Providencia, Jaime BelloliHe emphasized that the space is designed so that the community can prototype solutions to real urban and social problems. It is not limited to mere technological experimentation, but seeks to ensure that these tools contribute to improve municipal servicesto combat loneliness, optimize resources and strengthen the community fabric.
According to the councilman himself, LAB881 also aspires to join the Chilean network of municipal hubsso that other municipalities can observe how the model works, adapt it, and eventually replicate it. The aim is for the experience not to be confined to a single district, but to serve as a national reference.
During its first year of operation, the laboratory has set itself the objective of benefit around 800 people through programs, workshops, prototyping processes and open use of machines, consolidating itself as a relevant player in the local innovation ecosystem.
Equipment: 3D printers, lasers and resin technology
In its initial phase, LAB881 has a set of tools that cover a large part of the most common needs in digital manufacturingThe space has three 3D printers, including one on technology resinwhich allows for obtaining pieces with a higher level of detail and finer finishes for projects that require precision.
In addition to the printers, the lab incorporates a Laser cuttervery useful for working with wood, acrylics and other flat materials, as well as a curing machine necessary for the post-processing of parts made of resin. This combination of equipment opens the door to projects ranging from models and functional prototypes to finished products for small runs.
The equipment doesn't stop there: the municipality has announced that the machinery park will be will expand in the short term with new 3D printers and other devices, thanks in part to the support of partner companies. The firm TodoToner, for example, has donated some of the printers and has expressed its interest in continuing to support the project.
He explained Arie Saul Gateño, General Manager of TodoTonerThe company's intention is to contribute not only with equipment, but also by encouraging the model to be replicated in other municipalities. The shared objective involves democratize access to these technologies and to facilitate other municipalities adopting similar initiatives.
This combination of public resources and private collaboration reinforces LAB881's position as a milestone in the local innovation axiswhere access to professional machinery ceases to be a luxury and becomes a community service.
Free access, mandatory training and booking system
One of the distinguishing features of LAB881 is that access to the facilities is free for usersHowever, this is contingent upon a minimum training process to ensure the safe and responsible use of the equipment. It's not simply a matter of making the printers available to everyone, but rather of supporting the community so they can make good use of the resources.
To begin using the equipment, it is necessary to perform a prior registration at the Providencia Hub and attend mandatory in-person training. These sessions are held at a fixed frequency, twice a week: Tuesday from 10:00 to 12:00 and Thursday of 15: 00 to 17: 00 hoursso that any potential user can organize themselves and find a place.
Once this initial training is completed, users can reserve usage slots through a booking system that establishes specific durations per session. Each participant has annual quotas, distributed according to the time each slot occupies, in order to balance access between different profiles and avoid saturation of the space.
The laboratory operates from Monday to Friday by appointment onlyadjusting its operation to the Hub Providencia's regular schedule. To ensure the project's sustainability, it has been established that each user must contribute their own printing supplies and cutting, except in specific programs that include the supply of materials.
This access model, which combines free use of the machines with self-management of materials and mandatory trainingIt seeks to maintain a balance between openness, responsibility and care of the equipment, something especially relevant when it comes to shared public resources.
Three programmatic lines: Creative Nexus, Workshop House and Maker Residency
In addition to the general use of space, LAB881 structures its offering in three main programs Designed for different types of users and needs, this division allows students, entrepreneurs, and specialized teams to find a suitable fit for developing their projects.
The first line is Creative Nexus, aimed primarily at university students and academics Students seeking to connect their theses, research, or applied projects with concrete challenges in the community or with local startups and organizations are encouraged to apply. The idea is for the lab to serve as a bridge between the academic world and real-world problems that need tangible solutions.
Second is Workshop Housea program specifically focused on traditional entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to incorporate digital manufacturing technologies into their production processes. It is the only line that includes the delivery of supplies, which provides extra support for those taking their first steps in areas such as product design or object customization.
Casa Taller allows participants to explore the creation of pieces such as accessorieslamps, clocks, packaging or other objects that can be integrated into their catalogs or business lines. The use of the laboratory's machines, combined with technical support, reduces the cost of experimentation and shortens the path between idea and marketable product.
The third line is Maker Residence, designed to work teams that need an intensive prototyping spaceThis program has a maximum duration of around four months and is geared towards projects in areas such as smart cities, sustainability, creative industries or public safety.
Maker Residency offers not only continued access to the lab's infrastructure, but also specialized mentoring and a collaborative framework in which teams commit to providing technical feedback to the ecosystem. In this way, the knowledge generated during the residencies does not remain confined to specific projects, but is reintegrated into the community.
Impact on the community and role of the Providencia Hub
The first testimonies from people linked to the Providencia Hub give an idea of ​​the transformative potential of LAB881Entrepreneurs already working in the commune's innovation ecosystem have seen how the addition of a digital fabrication lab has changed their approach to projects.
Jonathan Oyarzo, co-founder of the technology company Midda and a regular user of the Hub, describes the evolution clearly: before they worked in isolation and now they have an environment in which they can develop technology, prototype and face real challenges in collaboration with other stakeholders. According to him, the lab opens up very concrete opportunities to start businesses and generate tangible impact.
During the inauguration, Mayor Bellolio shared that the initiative has received the support of authorities in the scientific and technological fields. Minister of Science and Technology, Ximena LincolaoHe would have compared the laboratory's standard to some of the best spaces in the United States, noting that the center has nothing to envy in international benchmarks.
This external validation adds to the strategic relevance of HUB Providencia as a transit and meeting point. The mayor himself has noted that approximately [number missing] people pass through the municipality daily. two million peopleThis makes the Hub a particularly well-situated place to concentrate initiatives related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic technology.
LAB881 thus integrates into a broader ecosystem where startups, SMEs, universities, residents, and local government converge. The combination of these actors, supported by infrastructure such as the 3D printing laboratory, reinforces Providencia's role as benchmark in public innovation within Chile and offers a model that other territories, including in Europe, can closely observe in order to design their own open digital manufacturing policies.
Democratizing digital manufacturing from the local level
One of the most repeated ideas surrounding LAB881 is the desire to Breaking the cost barrier of professional machineryAlthough 3D printer prices have fallen in recent years, for many people it is still not feasible to acquire their own equipment for occasional or exploratory use.
Mayor Bellolio has stated it directly: the goal is for any citizen to be able to come with an idea and to materialize it in the laboratory without needing to invest in expensive equipment that might only be used once. This logic aligns with the approach of many European maker spaces, where shared resource use is prioritized over individual ownership.
In this sense, LAB881 functions as a public service of digital manufacturingThis is similar to what is being tested in other countries in libraries, community centers, or municipal hubs. Providencia's experience, with its combination of programs, training, and private collaboration, can serve as a reference both within and outside of Chile for those designing citizen-led innovation policies.
With the laboratory now operational, the expectation of the authorities and the community is that the space will become established as a stable engine of projects with local impactFrom small solutions to improve specific neighborhoods to more ambitious initiatives in areas such as sustainability, public service design or creative industries.
LAB881 thus represents a significant step in how a local administration can understand technology: more than an end in itself, a shared tool for residents, students and entrepreneurs to experiment, learn and build practical solutions to the city's everyday challenges.
