UK to get first FabLab which will give designers the opportunity to turn their ideas into products.
The UK's first FabLab open by the end of 2009 in Manchester.
The concept has been developed out of a project by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has been spreading around the world, from rural India to Norway.
The project is designed to give individuals and businesses the opportunity to have manufacturing specialists turn their ideas and inventions into products.
The Manufacturing Institute, which is behind the first UK-based FabLab, hopes the Manchester project will be the first of many for the UK.
"By empowering individuals, developing skills, furthering innovation, educating children and prototyping new product ideas from business, a FabLab can stimulate the economy and benefit many different parts of the community," said Julie Madigan, chief executive of the Manufacturing Institute.
The concept is open source, so individuals can use the centre for free as long as they share information with the global community.
But businesses can also opt to protect their product development ideas by paying to use the service.
Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, called it a key part of the regeneration plans for the east Manchester area.
“This world-class imaginative project has the power to inspire invention and innovation opportunities which I am sure the creative talent of Manchester will seize - bringing together young and old, businesses and individuals, to share in creating their own products," said Sir Howard.