This book identifies, analyzes and discusses the current trends of digitalized, decentralized, and networked physical value creation by focusing on the particular example of 3D printing.

Drawing on empirical insights from the field of desktop 3D printing, this book elaborates the concept of innovation communities as a pattern of open and distributed innovation. As these communities spur a fruitful exchange of explorative, open source knowledge, they represent a novel mode of "doing innovation," which considerably differs from established practices in market and business realms. Hence, the people that participate in these collective endeavors often develop entrepreneurial ambitions and start to exploit community-based innovations commercially. The book presents deep insights...