Kaohsiung City Maker Carnival Launches Three-Creation Services to Build a Creative City

Kaohsiung City Maker Carnival: Building a Maker Environment, Keeping Youth Rooted in Kaohsiung

The Labor Affairs Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government held the "Flip It! Youth! Maker Carnival" event over two days, the 6th and 7th, at Shijia Labor Park. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, Labor Affairs Bureau Director-General Chung Kung-chao, Economic Development Bureau Director-General Tseng Wen-sheng, Education Bureau Deputy Director-General Wang Chin-yen, along with Legislator Lin Tai-hua, Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh, Kaohsiung City Councilors Lin Wan-jung, Chien Huan-tsung, and Chiu Chun-hsien, and Industrial Bureau Consumer Chemicals Division Deputy Director Chai Ta-lu, all attended the launch ceremony. The event invited 36 local maker teams to showcase their works, and also featured a robot dance show, aerial photography drone performances, DIY teaching, green energy vehicle test rides, and more, attracting the public to witness the charm of makers and experience the fun of DIY lifestyle technology.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu stated that the Kaohsiung City Government has always actively supported young people in unleashing their creativity and realizing their dreams. Whether it was the "Kaohsiung Digital Content Creative Center" established in year 101 of the Republic of China, or the "Happy Kaohsiung Relocation Allowance" and "Youth Empowerment Program" launched starting in year 102, all are aimed at continuously building Kaohsiung into an environment suitable for youth employment and dream-building. This "Maker Carnival" hopes to further encourage makers to form communities and facilitate more exchanges. The city government will provide three-creation (creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship) services for youth, building Kaohsiung into a creative city.

Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau Director-General Chung Kung-chao stated that with the popularization of technological tools, turning creative ideas into physical products no longer requires high-level thresholds. The Labor Affairs Bureau hopes to provide maker spaces for youth, including cross-disciplinary applications such as "3D printing, aerial vehicles, robots, laser cutting, and apps," where creative ideas can be shared, and business opportunities such as commercialization, investment, and patent licensing can be driven.

18-year-old maker Hsu Jui-sen, a student in the Information Technology Department at Kao Ying Industrial Commercial Vocational High School, once collected discarded computer towers and assembled two 3D printers. He has already obtained 12 computer-related certifications, and this year ranked first nationwide in the electrical and electronic engineering group through the Star Recommendation admission process, gaining admission to National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. He said, "I'm very happy to participate in various maker gatherings covering circuits and electrical engineering, computer software and hardware, and I look forward to practicing creativity with more friends!" Another 27-year-old robot-building expert, Hu Che-wei, is a disciple of renowned Japanese robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi. His students have repeatedly achieved excellent results in robot-building competitions. There is also passionate maker teacher Wei Ming-hsien, who has taught at Kaohsiung Industrial High School for over 20 years, leading students to participate in various science exhibitions and competitions, cultivating students' ability to conduct hands-on experiments and solve problems.

The Kaohsiung Labor Affairs Bureau stated that this year, in cooperation with the Industrial Bureau, it has created research and development spaces for "fashion design, 3D printing, lifestyle innovation design, and high-tech printing" at the Shijia Hall of the Labor Education and Life Center. Not only will it provide youth with relevant software and hardware resources, but it will also create hundreds of mid-to-high-level job vacancies. The Shijia Hall will also transform into a facility with five major functions: "research and development, employment, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and recreation," providing comprehensive youth career services. The public is welcome to visit. Address: No. 132, Zhongshan 3rd Road, Qianzhen District. Phone: 07-3328110.