Another way to build supportive foundations for the development of independent businesses and entrepreneurship

Andrew calls our attention to this article from the Los Angeles Times, "TechShop: Where do-it-yourself inventors do R&D," subtitled "Silicon Valley workshop offers tools to an innovative community."

From the article:

By offering affordable access to otherwise out-of-reach tools, TechShop is lowering start-up costs and providing a commons for previously isolated minds. It's a place where "makers" -- as members of the do-it-yourself movement are known -- can make such products as water-cooled stacks of computer servers and remote-controlled robots that do videoconferencing.

It's doing for physical goods what Kinko's did for printed products, said David Pescovitz, a research director at the Institute for the Future, a forecasting group in Menlo Park. "TechShop has the potential to be the service bureau to the maker culture," he said. The atelier occupies a maze-like 15,000-square-foot warehouse near Stanford University. Twelve work tables fill the main space. Rooms are designated individually for activities such as painting, foam molding and neon production.

Since opening in October 2006, TechShop has attracted 300 members, each paying $100 a month for hands-on access to the sophisticated tools. The operation also sells supplies and charges for classes.

Randi Lynn Beach, For The Times. Former Hewlett-Packard engineer Chris Tacklind, left, works with Daniel Fukuba in TechShop's welding lab. Jim Newton, the man behind TechShop, wants to expand the concept to 50 sites in five years.