Krešimir Čanić represented FabLab Croatia at Beijing International Week for Science Literacy 2026, held in September at the Beijing Science Center in Beijing. Through exhibition activities, professional presentations and meetings with international partners, he shared Croatian experience in developing local STEM ecosystems, with a particular focus on Grobnik and the connection between cultural heritage and science and technology education.

Participation also included the annual meeting of the Beijing Global Network of Science Festivals (BGNSF), alongside exchanges of experience and discussions about opportunities to jointly develop educational programmes, interactive exhibitions and approaches to science popularisation.

Making STEM Education Accessible Across Communities

FabLab Croatia’s presentation highlighted its philosophy that science, technology and creative education should also be accessible beyond major urban centres. Developing local STEM ecosystems relies on connecting associations, educational institutions, local government and the maker community, as well as designing programmes that respond to the needs of the communities in which they take place.

The experiences presented covered work across different parts of Croatia, from Zagreb to smaller and island communities. They share a commitment to creating opportunities for hands-on learning, exploration and creative expression, drawing on local knowledge, spaces and resources.

This approach emphasises the importance of collaboration: equipment and spaces gain their educational value through the people who design programmes, deliver activities and connect them with the community.

Grobnik as an Example of Good Practice

Particular attention was given to the Centre for Creativity and the Popularization of Science in Grobnik, established by repurposing a historic school building next to the Frankopan castle. A space previously used for school lessons has taken on a new educational role as a place for creativity, experimentation and STEM activities.

Grobnik demonstrates how cooperation between civil society, educators and the local community, supported by local and regional government, can enable existing spaces to be reused for educational purposes. Joint programme development and the sustained work of the people delivering those programmes are central to this process.

In the presentation, Grobnik served as a practical example of connecting local heritage, hands-on activities and science popularisation.

Cryptography as a Link Between Heritage, Mathematics and Technology

The Small School of Cryptography was among the initiatives presented, connecting cultural heritage and history with mathematics and technology. Through encoding and decoding messages, children and young people engage with tasks designed to develop logical thinking and independent problem-solving skills.

This approach begins with a story and active participation. Historical context becomes a starting point for exploration, while practical tasks allow participants to engage directly in the learning process.

The projects A Short History of Cryptography – From Ancient Ciphers to Enigma and STEAM SHOW were also presented through exhibition activities and professional presentations in Beijing. Their presentation formed part of an exchange of experience on interactive approaches to education and science popularisation.

Exchanging Experience and Exploring International Cooperation

Participation in the BGNSF annual meeting and professional gatherings enabled discussions with international partners about shared educational interests and opportunities for future cooperation. Topics included the development of educational programmes, interactive exhibitions and new methods of engaging different visitor groups with science.

For FabLab Croatia, participation in Beijing was an opportunity to present experiences from Croatian communities and learn about the approaches of other organisations. Discussions about future cooperation connected practical local examples with the international exchange of knowledge and educational content.

The central message of the presentation was that local STEM ecosystems emerge by bringing people, knowledge and communities together. The experience of Grobnik and other Croatian communities shows how local initiatives can offer relevant examples for international dialogue and become a starting point for further cooperation.