Innovating for a Resilient Future -Project 2026: Meta-Manufacturing & Micro-Enterprise

Project 2026
Innovating for a Resilient Future with
Meta-Manfacturing & Micro-Enterprise

Project 2026 is our flagship pilot for scalable local production. We’re focused on “meta-manufacturing”—the ability to manufacture the means of manufacturing—through advanced technologies like 3D printing and CNC machining. Many local maker spaces already exist and service local artists, technicians, and entrepreneurs. But they are often small-scale and historically have been easily shut down or disrupted by budget shortfalls or unexpected changes. Scaled up to a higher level but still localized, organized as a consortium of local manufacturers, local makers, and transpartisan stakeholders, Meta-Manufacturing Hubs can help communities reduce reliance on distant supply chains, spark entrepreneurship, and enhance local resilience.

Core Focus Areas

• Enhancing Local Production
  From repairing essential goods to designing CNC machines that can fabricate new tools, we’re tackling key gaps in local manufacturing capacity and potential supply constraints.
• Building Cooperative Governance
  Meta-Manufacturing Hubs will be developed through transpartisan development processes that bring out the best of our differences as we develop a shared plan for local investment and local benefits.
• Bridging Youth & Industry
  We partner with schools and training programs to equip the next generation with cutting-edge skills in coding, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, ensuring long-term viability.

Applying Our Four Objectives to Project 2026

Discover: Community listening tours and research help us identify which technologies, tools, and materials will have the greatest local impact.

Create: Pop-up manufacturing hubs and pilot events introduce hands-on experiences and test new approaches for broader rollouts.

Advocate: We drive awareness and policy support, working with local officials to craft legislation that promotes community-driven manufacturing that keeps more of the benefits of our hard work at the local level.

Sustain: We provide continued operational consultation to ensure organizational overhead is self-sustaining and adaptive to keep micro-enterprises running and evolving responsibly—helping communities remain disruption-proof.

With Project 2026 leading the way, we’re building a blueprint for robust, cooperative local economies that thrive in a rapidly changing world.

How We “Make”

At our Think & Make Tank, “Make” means turning ideas into action. We collaborate with communities to deliver practical, high-impact solutions. Our approach rests on our four core practices:

1. Discover
   We engage in in-depth research and host dialogues with communities to uncover actionable insights.
2. Create
   We develop pilot projects that spark innovation, build local resilience, and lay the groundwork for scalable solutions.
3. Advocate
   We champion policies that promote local resilience, stronger community connections, and equitable growth.
4. Sustain
   We equip communities with the foresight, resources, and support they need to adapt responsibly—today and tomorrow.

We don’t just imagine a better future—we help build it. 

Become a vital part of our mission at the Collective Action Research and Emergence Institute. Your involvement can drive meaningful change in communities worldwide. Whether through donations, volunteering, or participating in our events, your contribution helps us foster resilience and innovation. Together, we can build a more sustainable future.