Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 business precinct plan
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New precinct plans for two of the city's dedicated business areas
Fostering R&D work in the Tamaki Innovation Precinct
Finalisation of the precinct plan comes after a process of ongoing consultation with the local business community and other stakeholders on the concept of an innovation precinct in Tamaki. The idea has been well supported by industry.
Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 is a plan to facilitate the establishment of a technology-based industry and research precinct within Tamaki, helping to attract new business and employment opportunities in high-value industry sectors. The plan will provide the framework for renewal and ongoing development of the innovation precinct.
The Church Neilson Precinct Plan, encompassing a core area of the Penrose business area was also adopted at the same meeting. The precinct plan outlines the key aspirations and land use changes for the business area out to 2050. This plan has been developed as part of the Future Planning Framework, a programme of work undertaken to provide a comprehensive planning framework for the isthmus.
"Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 and the Church Neilson Precinct Plan provide the framework for future development in two of the city's key dedicated business areas," says Janet Schofield, Business Development Area Manager.
"The plans will ensure that these precincts remain competitive and support ongoing economic growth and prosperity in Auckland city."
Both precinct plans are now available for download - Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 business precinct plan
(499kb) PDF
To read about the Church Neilson Precinct Plan visit
www.itsmybackyard.co.nz.
Have your say: Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 - draft
business precinct plan
Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040 is a plan to facilitate the establishment of a technology-based industry and research precinct within Tamaki, attracting new business and employment opportunities in high-value industry sectors.
The plan will provide the framework for the renewal and ongoing development of the innovation precinct. It will foster an environment where research and technology-based businesses can locate with like-minded organisations and contribute to a sustainable future and prosperity in Auckland city and the wider Auckland region.
From Monday 30 November to Sunday 20 December 2009, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback on
Tamaki Innovation Precinct 2040. The feedback received will be used to finalise the plan, which will guide future council action in the precinct.
Download the business precinct plan and feedback form, or email
Tamaki@aucklandcity.govt.nz.
A business precinct plan for the Tamaki Innovation Precinct
The Tamaki Innovation Precinct is proposed to be a technology-based industry and research precinct. It will attract knowledge and science based industries to the Tamaki business area immediately and over future decades.
As part of its consultation, the council hosted two events at the University of Auckland's Tamaki campus. These sessions asked participants to identify key constraints or opportunities within the precinct and consider what actions could be undertaken to solve these issues. With over 50 people attending across both events, the council received positive feedback from attendees on the innovation precinct concept.
Discussions at these events highlighted four key issues requiring attention:
- improved access to, from and within the precinct as a result of better public transport services and the completion of the Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI)
- the need to create zoning rules that ensures development appropriate to an innovation precinct
- an innovation centre or key attractor to act as a catalyst for transformation
- setting a clear strategic focus with clarity on targeted industry sectors or key research themes.
"The level of interest shown by the University of Auckland, businesses and property owners is a positive indicator to the council that an innovation precinct based in Tamaki would be welcomed by research and technology sectors" says Janet Schofield, Business Development Area manager.
"Our engagement with key businesses and interested stakeholders has provided council with useful and practical suggestions about how the innovation precinct can be progressed."
"The consultation process has also created an opportunity to explore the establishment of a business networking group, similar to those successfully operating in other business areas across the isthmus. This would assist with future engagement and business involvement in Tamaki."
The feedback received during the consultation period will be used to inform the development of a business precinct plan for the Tamaki Innovation Precinct. The draft plan will be made available for comment before it is finalised and adopted by council.
For further information on the Tamaki Innovation Precinct contact
Janet Schofield.
Visit by Professor John Allen
Science parks are "buzzy clusters"
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| Professor John Allen |
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Encouraging a cluster of technology and science based businesses into a
purpose built property development around the Tamaki campus of the University of
Auckland is under serious study.
A group comprising the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Economic
Development and Auckland City Council brought Professor John Allen to Auckland
to discuss the option. Professor Allen is a UK based world-renowned expert in
science and technology park development. Formerly chairman of the UK Science
Parks Association and CEO and chairman of Manchester Science Park, Professor
Allen has a wealth of experience in catalysing profitable science and technology
parks. He believes they can ultimately help to define the image and brands of
cities in which they are located.
The seven key offerings of science parks
- Good environment and accommodation (the clustering effect)
- Business support
- Technology transfer opportunities
- Incubation
- 'Grow on' support
- Good environment for larger companies
- Links to a reservoir of technology.
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Professor Allen gave a public lecture in May at the University of Auckland's
Business School explaining what a science park is and does. This is an abridged
summary of his presentation.
"A science park is infrastructure for the support of knowledge-based businesses.
It usually consists of a location - there must be somewhere for the companies to
reside. The property itself is important, including its look, ambience and
fitness for purpose. The whole physical environment can help science companies
grow.
"Where companies grow together, you get a cluster effect: they are visible. If
they are dotted around a city, they may not be visible. Together, they can help
each other. In Charles Handy's words it's a "buzzy cluster" - it's exciting to
be part of the group, and you can feel it when you go there. The effectiveness
of grouping businesses has been demonstrated on a number of occasions.
"A focus on a formal or operational link with a research university is also
important. A science park needs a 'reservoir of technology' nearby - something
to exploit, through a link with a number of universities. Forging the links
between the tertiary institutions and the tenant companies becomes vital.
Management advice at hand is also imperative. Clustered science based businesses
usually employ ex-researchers. They've been working in a technology based
environment. In most cases the management, marketing, competition, production
scheduling, financial control and structuring of the company - that is, the
commercial parts of the company - are the biggest challenges, not the research.
So the park needs management and commercial advice at hand.
"A science park is a long term project. It is not a quick fix. It takes up to a
decade for the park to gain real momentum. Although you can see progress after
four or five years, maturity takes at least a decade. In business terms, the
park is a property development, with paying tenants. It needs to be properly
managed and financed. It is not 'bolted on' to the university. Indeed, it can
ultimately have a profound effect on the university's thinking, its
entrepreneurial activity, and its academics.
"A good science park does not eat up public money, but is profitable. Just like
any business, it needs investment to start with - pump priming, usually from the
public sector - but it quickly becomes a business in itself, leasing
accommodation to businesses. Its profit goes towards growing its own business
and support services to its tenants.
"Science parks help cities make their mark amongst the world's league. A well
developed park gradually makes a distinctive impact upon the economical and
technological life of a region or city. It can ultimately have an impact upon
the whole culture of the city and country.
"In Manchester, in the 1970s and 80s, all heavy industry in steel, textiles and
shipbuilding was lost to China, Russia, India and Japan. There was huge
unemployment which quickly became a major social problem. Regional governments
initiated the Manchester Science Park largely out of crisis management to gain
back employment, and the idea of creating a link to the university's technology
was born. The park has been full since 1998 and now has 12 buildings in three
locations. Its core business is providing property for companies who pay rent.
They make a profit for the park, and the park in turn helps to grow the
business.
"There is now a heavy emphasis on highly skilled employees at the park, but also
a large number of local people employed in support as administrators,
secretaries and technicians. In fact, the park café is a hub for knowledge
exchange and entire business relationships have started there.
"Science parks do work. They can make a significant contribution to the
knowledge economy. Overall, the commercial performance of tenants in the park is
better than that of matched companies which are not in a park."
Lecture by Jane Davies - CEO Manchester Science
Park
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| Jane Davies |
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Jane Davies, CEO Manchester Science
Park, UK delivered a public lecture on "Science Parks - Economic Catalysts for
City Growth" on Tuesday 23 September 2008.
Manchester Science Park is internationally recognised as one of the most
successful and fastest growing science parks in the world. Set up in 1984, it
operates today over three sites, accommodating more than 100 businesses and 1000
employees. It provides quality accommodation and added-value services for
companies in high-technology sectors. Manchester Science Park is now regarded as
one of its city's most valuable strategic assets, enhancing its economic and
technological wealth.
Jane presented observations and lessons on the role of science parks in the development
of a city-region's knowledge economy.
Whilst
visiting Auckland, Jane advised on best practice to assist partners in the
development of a science and technology park, adjacent to the
University of
Auckland's Tamaki campus.
See
Perspectives - Science parks resilient in recession.
Innovation centre moves towards reality
The concept for a major science and technology park in an under-developed area of Auckland took a major step forward recently. The government announced in late October it would fund up to $25 million for the New Zealand Innovation Centre to be sited between Panmure and Glen Innes.
"This is a purpose-built science and technology centre, on Auckland City Council land, adjacent to the Tamaki campus of the University of Auckland," says Tamaki innovation precinct project leader Janet Schofield.
"We're delighted it's moving towards reality."
The vision for the innovation centre's development is jointly held between Auckland City Council, the University of Auckland and the Ministry of Economic Development. The centre is the first building in what the partners hope will become New Zealand's premier area for innovative research-based, science and technology companies - many of which will have a relationship with the university's research programmes. A building manager will seek tenants who can benefit from the location, and already several potential tenants have expressed interest.
Construction is expected to start in 2010, and in the next six months a plan change for the site will be initiated, and the council will commence master planning for the location. A remediation plan for the site, which is 84-150 Morrin Road and a former landfill, will also be undertaken.
Tamaki precinct
Around the centre, which sits on a five hectare site allowing for more buildings to be built and leased to compatible tenants interested in science and technology, Auckland City Council is hoping an ‘innovation precinct' will spring up.
This would be a neighbourhood of businesses which also support science and technology, or themselves earn revenue from innovation. Typically, overseas, these neighbourhoods take 20 to 30 years to mature.
Because Auckland City Council sets regulatory and zoning frameworks which might encourage such a precinct to happen, it has engaged in a consultation process with local businesses to help plan the area.
Updated May 2010
