Open Tech Space

The goals of OpenTechSpace and COAST are:

1. Give the Portland area Open and Sustainable Tech community loci for physical interaction

   In other words, places to find interesting people, discuss ideas, and maybe work on projects together. The goal behind this is to serve as something of an un-incubator (in the same sense that a BarCamp is an un-conference). We want to be an incubator of new ideas and new businesses not by providing information and services directly, but by creating environments where they can interact with other people with ideas and skills.

2. Hold regular sessions and events to cross-fertilize the communities

   We want to hold weekly sessions where people talk about existing projects, or discuss new ideas. We will start by bringing in people from outside groups (robotics, rocketry, artists, open software projects, museums), but people who work on OpenTechSpace-sponsored projects will also be encouraged to give talks.

   We also want to sponsor wider events, such as CodeCamps — a cross between a BarCamp (unconference) and a code sprint, where people get together and actually write code for software projects, and a special Ignite-like event with short presentations of new ideas for projects (currently code-named Pre-Ignition).

3. Provide tools and information to help people realize their ideas by building prototypes

   We run electronics and computer labs at TechShop for building prototypes. Other venues have also offered us space, and we hope to expand into these spaces in the future.

   In exchange, people who build prototypes will share the ideas in an open way. For example, by making their source open, publishing schematics, etc.

4. Persue economic development of open and sustainable projects

   Connect people with marketable ideas and prototypes toward resources to help them start their own businesses. These resources include OTBC and PSBA. Help drive the international reputation of Portland and Oregon as a leader for Open and Sustainable Technology.