Eric Pan
Open hardware innovator, founder and CEO of Seeed Studio, Shenzhen
Eric Pan founded Seeed Studio in his apartment in Shenzhen in 2008. Today, Seeed is a platform for hardware development and innovation. Pan helps makers from all over the world develop low-cost prototypes as fast as possible. He has excellent links to countless industrial companies. Success came quickly for Seeed, and it now employs more than 300 people. Forbes China listed Pan in the top 30 most successful entrepreneurs in China. He is also the founder of Chaihuo, Shenzhen’s first makerspace.
“Thanks to open hardware, more and more makers, small groups, and amateur inventors can actually realize their ideas and thereby build sustainable companies. However, many of them fail or only just manage to make ends meet. But I am convinced that some stars will emerge. Their products will catch on worldwide.”
“Science works in a similar way. I can include other people’s findings – I just need to cite who I am referring to. That way it’s clear that it’s not all from me. If everyone who used my findings had to pay me royalties, science would stagnate.”