National Maker Response Case Studies - Open Source Medical Supplies

OSMS has studied how maker communities of different countries individually responded to the crisis. We explored how they solved problems specific to their geography and other factors, and deliver the insights in the form of individual case studies vetted for accuracy by the respective national maker communities and organizations.

These extensive case studies serve as a blueprint for maker groups in countries that want to achieve or improve their nation-scale coordination.
Each case study covers the following topics specific to the country’s maker response:

History
Management & Reporting Structure
Data Management
Politics & Enablers
Funding
Links & Press

National Case Studies

Germany demonstrated resilience through a decentralized network of 180 regional hubs that coordinated among 7,000+ makers to produce hundreds of thousands of supplies during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Despite enormous infrastructure challenges, Brazilian makers have stood up a decentralized national response resulting in 1 Million + pieces of PPE made across hundreds of maker groups, with a growing nation-wide coalition.

Indian makers came together in the national M19 Coalition across 42 cities and villages, building 1 million+ face shields in 49 days, while meeting the challenge of a very strict lockdown that complicated deliveries to healthcare facilities.

Romania has a history of political corruption leading to its populace taking matters into their own hands. Romanian makers came together for nation-wide initiatives, producing 350,000+ pieces of PPE among tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the country.

Makers across France mobilized in multiple parallel nation-wide efforts, producing more than 1 million pieces of PPE across hundreds of regional hubs for French healthcare workers, as well as exporting PPE as aid in half a dozen countries around the world.

Spain’s maker community came together through multiple nation-scale decentralized efforts, producing more than 1.5 million pieces of PPE across the country while collaborating with the military for distribution.