analysis
Crick Institute Image: HOK Chris Ansell
New technology and design - the key to London universities’ growth
Knowledge Capital: Making places for education, innovation and health is a major research report published by New London Architecture (NLA) which examines how innovation clusters, new technology and ground-breaking design are key drivers of the city’s future economy. Here are its main findings
L
ONDON has long been internationally recognised as a foremost global centre for higher and further
education, a pioneering research hub for science and technology, and a home to some of the world’s leading medical centres, institutes and hospitals. The sector is fast changing and a number
of new campuses and major buildings have recently been built or are in planning, with pioneering projects featured in the research including: • The Francis Crick Institute – Europe’s largest centre of biomedical research – which aims to bring together different organisations and disciplines under one roof.
• UCL East – University College London’s new campus at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, opening in 2022.
• Imperial West at White City – a multidisciplinary campus for Imperial College London’s scientists, engineers, and the translation of research ideas into direct applications and spin-out companies. The NLA report suggests that in this
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age of rapid social and technological change, buildings and places for education and health will need to not only be digitally networked, but even more highly adaptable, responsive, well- connected and demountable – as well as affordable. They will need to continue to facilitate collaboration and personal interaction to drive forward innovation in research and personalisation of services and treatment. The report sets out key priorities
for future-proofing the education and health estate: • Greater flexibility and integration across services, facilities and policy
• A wider range of labs for start-ups and more space in which to scale up
• More qualitative and creative approaches to understanding collaboration outputs
• Affordable housing in a mix of types and tenures
• To keep cities ‘messy’, allowing for unexpected encounters and revelatory discoveries Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA, comments: “The strength of the
knowledge sector in London will be of increasing importance in a post-Brexit economy especially since, unlike banks and financiers, these institutions are wedded to the place and will not move away. We are the world’s top university city with 14 in the top 500 list - we are in prime position to benefit from the growing global significance of this sector.” The report explains that in the 21st
century, knowledge and innovation are among the key drivers of urban prosperity. However, greater mobility and digitisation mean that physical location and proximity to other like-minded people have become ever more important in order to support the spontaneous personal interactions, sharing of ideas and inspiration that lead to innovation and advances in research to flourish. The importance of collaboration as the
prerequisite for innovation, and the need to accommodate “translational research”, ie, the use of research to inform the development of commercial uses and applications, mean that buildings and spaces have to become more flexible and
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