Existential hope is a thing. Foresight Institute (https://foresight.org/technologies/foresight-existential-hope/) is working on it. Foresight is a sensemaking, futurist, mid-course correction, appropriate technology, metacrisis, existentical hope institution. Check out discussion with Beatrice Erkers - https://www.existentialhope.com/team/beatrice-erkers. They have a Fellowship that covers Existential Hope, and Open Source Ecology work may fit in that paradigm. Check out their library - "From Existential Angst to Existential Hope" - https://www.existentialhope.com/existential-risk-existential-hope. And "Meta-Tools for Progress" - https://www.existentialhope.com/meta-tools-for-progress-intro. Definitely big picture thinking.

The OSE opinion is that social technology is more important. At a time of exploding hardware tech and retarded social tech - namely the lack of a collaborative abundance mindset - the key threat to society is not technology but humanity's incapacity to steward this technology properly. Stewarding technology properly is more of a personal development issue, less of a technology issue.

Fellowship Application - MJ 25

Short Biography

Marcin Jakubowski is a Polish-American physicist, technologist, and founder of Open Source Ecology. After immigrating to the U.S. from Poland as a child, he earned a degree with honors from Princeton University and completed a Ph.D. in fusion physics at the University of Wisconsin. Disillusioned by the disconnect between advanced research and real-world challenges, he launched Open Source Ecology in 2003 to make closed-loop, regenerative manufacturing accessible to all. He leads development of the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS)—a modular, open source platform of 50 industrial machines required to build a modern civilization from scratch. Marcin is a TED Senior Fellow, Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, and was recognized by Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2012 and as a White House Champion of Change.

Links to LinkedIn or Other Relevant Websites

Main site: https://www.opensourceecology.org/
Media archive (2008–present): https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Press

Links to Project-Specific Work

TED Talk: Open-Sourced Blueprints for Civilization

What Do You Currently Work On? Why?

We are completing the Global Village Construction Set by 2028—delivering fully open-source, commercially viable versions of all 50 machines. This is a pivotal time: after two decades of development, we now have proven models for rapid design-build cycles, scalable collaboration, and mission-aligned revenue.

We are launching a world builder apprenticeship, funded through the production and sale of Seed Eco-Homes. These homes are built in just 5 days by a 24-person crew using modular, swarm-construction methods. This approach combines open hardware, collaborative design, and universal basic assets to demonstrate that abundant, regenerative infrastructure can be delivered at near-zero marginal cost. Our goal is to ignite a new economy based on transparent, decentralized production.

How Can the Foresight Fellowship Help Accelerate Your Work?

Completing and deploying the GVCS requires collaboration with experts across dozens of fields—from industrial design to systems engineering to regenerative development. The Foresight Fellowship would amplify our work by:

Connecting us with aligned futurists, technologists, and system builders
Helping us communicate our mission and technical roadmap to broader audiences
Offering strategic insight into scalable deployment and replication models

Given that GVCS-style distributed production could unlock $11 trillion in global value, we see the Fellowship as a key bridge to the world-class collaborators and ecosystem we need to reach this horizon.

Are There Specific People or Projects in Our Orbit That We Can Help You Connect With?

We deeply resonate with the abundance-focused and systems-level orientation of many in your network. Adam Marblestone stands out—Open Source Ecology aligns with the Focused Research Organization model: a clearly scoped public good project with measurable technical milestones and a direct deployment path. We also seek dialogue with those working on startup cities, decentralized infrastructure, and open hardware platforms.

If You Were Given $10K Towards Your Project, What Would You Do With It?

We would acquire a rock crusher for processing limestone used in solar concrete—a regenerative material made from abundant rock and powered entirely by photovoltaics. This enables net-zero-emission, locally sourced construction and is a foundational component of our infrastructure stack. It also represents an entry point into a trillion-dollar industry—decarbonized building materials.

Location

Country: USA
City/State: Kansas City, MO

Existential Hope