“What is an innovation district?!” We’re celebrating our first 100 days!
We’re celebrating! It’s 100 days since we quietly launched as Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District - and so much has happened during this busy (and locked down) time.
Innovation districts may be a new idea to you. We’ve even been asked "What is an innovation district, anyway?" So, we put together this short explainer video to answer exactly that question…
While pandemic restrictions put the brakes on having an in-person celebration event for now, we wanted to acknowledge all the amazing things that have happened since our start, and just a little bit of the impact we’ve already had in our first 100 days.
Let’s take a look…
TRANSFORM: We’re a unified voice for Macquarie Park!
We reviewed the state government’s new 20 Year Plan for Macquarie Park. In a comprehensive submission, coordinated with our members, we outlined strengths in the draft strategy, and identified opportunities for Macquarie Park to go further.
Ahead of local elections, we hosted an event with potential Ryde Council candidates. With elections fast approaching, and together with the Macquarie Park Ryde Business Chamber, we created the forum to discuss the investment, initiatives and local leadership Macquarie Park needs.
We’ve met with and briefed several government agencies and civic bodies on our plans, including the Greater Sydney Commission, Department of Planning, Transport for NSW, the Mayor of the City of Ryde, the Chair of the Macquarie Park Forum, the Committee for Sydney and the Global Institute on Innovation Districts - as well as all our members, of course!
MOVE: Growing Macquarie Park, without growing congestion
We’ve updated our Macquarie Park travel guide, and published it on our website - perfect for new starters and the post-pandemic return to the office!
We’ve continued to track the impact of the pandemic on trips and footfall in our area. With latest data showing more Mac Park employees want to ride to work, we commissioned the experts at The Rolling Fix to show you where to cycle safely.
And, to celebrate national ride2work day (even if you’re still working from home!) we gave away a brand new bike worth $1,500 to one lucky commuter in our employee competition!
THRIVE: boosting innovation and commercialisation opportunities
We tested what innovators want - and if Mac Park has got it - in a focus group of innovators, creating a new snapshot of our area’s emerging innovation ecosystem.
Working with our partners at Macquarie University we planned - and, due to the pandemic, promptly postponed - the next event in our ongoing series of innovation summits, which will shine a spotlight on the amazing work that happens here. The Macquarie Park Space Industry Innovation Summit will return in early 2022!
We showcased our area’s innovators and new ideas - from publishing stories on our News page, to filming a video case study of an incredible invention that hopes to revolutionise the way we maintain buildings - created right here in north west Sydney. Watch this space!
ELEVATE: amplifying Macquarie Park’s achievements
We’ve embraced our role as Macquarie Park’s chief storytellers. From AI bots, some magic mushrooms and new advances in hydrogen technology to robot surgeons and even 3D printing food - we’ve published more than 40 articles to share what happens here.
We’ve sent our newsletter to thousands of local stakeholders - showcasing our members, the impact of innovation and putting Macquarie Park on the front page - growing our subscriber base and reach by 150% in the process!
We’ve convened workshops with leading workplaces in the Park to chart our area’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and worked closely with our partners at City of Ryde Council to refine Macquarie Park’s narrative framework - there’s more work to be done here, but we’ve made a great start.
UNITE - building activation, engagement and our community
We’ve planned two Connect Community forums - the peer-to-peer learning space which is exclusively for our members - bringing together the leading employers in the Park to review return to the workplace plans, to celebrate our COVID report launch and get up to date on FBT on parking.
We’ve created a calendar of events to highlight that there’s more happening in Mac Park than meets the eye - from pitch competitions at Macquarie Incubator, to world-leading open air art shows!
We’ve worked with our members to plan an impactful and exciting campaign to encourage employees that “Mac Park is OPEN” in the new year - watch this space!
Continuing to support our members and grow our impact
As a not-for-profit organisation we couldn’t have the impact we do without the support of our members, who we call the leading workplaces in Macquarie Park.
Our members are the first to receive our publications and intel - like our recent pandemic report Finding the Path Forward 2021 - and receive personalised support from us, as well as exclusive access to member-only tools, events and programs
There’s so much more to come in 2022! Really, we’re just getting started. From a major campaign in the new year to encourage employees back to the Park, to a data-led Park-wide census snapshot - we have great plans for 2022.
We’re optimistic about the new year, and indeed about the future of Macquarie Park.
Perhaps you’re ready to join us?
