UWS launched their Western Sydney economic development strategy at a WSBC collaborative event in Penrith last week. It was great to see the Australian Government recognising the importance of our region with local Federal MP, Fiona Scott, granted a rare release from the final parliamentary sitting day before recess, directly from the Prime Minister.

The panel discussion with Fiona Scott MP, Prof. Barney Glover, VC of UWS, Dr Tim Williams, CEO Committee for Sydney and Paul Van Bergan, Tax and R&D incentives Partner at KPMG saw a very informative conversation. Many businesses in attendance praised the initiative and the discussions.

The Western Sydney Innovation Corridor is a strategy that is regional in focus and international in context and made up of interconnected knowledge-driven commercial hubs. The attached document provides further information and you can keep up to date with progress via WSBC news pages. 

In mid July the University will release a detailed paper by Professor Donald McNeil, to add to the evidence base for the innovation corridor to preview the following key findings:

• In fostering innovation across a defined area, competition between firms can be just as important as collaboration.

  
  

• In this region, skilled jobs will, to a large extent, come via mastering software platforms across different industries rather than just within single sectors.

  
  

• We need to work together to capture the full benefit of the region’s infrastructure investments, and avoid the ‘splintering’ and ‘bypass’ effects faster connections can bring.

  
  

• Under its ‘Grand Paris’ strategy, the French Government is positioning a university at the centre of its new orbital transport infrastructure.

  
  

• We must encourage airlines to plan for high-volume service, by shifting the narrative from, ‘What will the airport bring?’ to instead ask, ‘What can the region bring to the airport?’

  
  

• Process innovation can be just as valuable as product innovation.