With the motto, “Knowledge * Talent * Mischief,” the Columbus Idea Foundry offers the kind of shared tinkering spaces that have inspired legions of businesses like Microsoft, Apple and Google that got their starts in garages.

Commonplace in Europe and popping up all over the United States, “hackerspaces” like the Idea Foundry allows engineers, innovators and techies the chance to share space, tools and ideas for a nominal monthly membership fee.

Established in 2009, the Idea Foundry was the brainchild of engineer Alex Bandar. Operating out of a 24,000 square-foot building, the Foundry includes 32 studios, half a dozen incubated businesses and plenty of workshop space to inspire creativity, discovery and invention.

“We’ve done a good job of getting some commercial quality equipment into our shop,” says Bandar. “We have all sorts of welding resources, software and computers.” The Foundry charges members a $25 monthly fee.

For more information, visit the Idea Foundry’s website.