London needs some clear plans to galvanise activity around to recover from covid, navigate difficult economic times and support its institutions, businesses and people.  Innovation districts have a key role to play in building on our research and education excellence, helping to drive business productivity, and helping support people in up-skilling, reskilling and indeed in forming/growing businesses.  

The panel has concluded that its work will principally be focussed on districts where there is scientific research and R&D, but not exclusively.  We want to support those places where there is material intent and co-ordination around building innovation and enterprise.  In essence you don’t need a leading university in a district given that they are here at city wide level – although stakeholders leading initiatives need to think about and build plans around how you anchor universities into innovation hubs.  

We want to focus our time in the early parts of the year looking at how London is able to sell itself holistically, highlighting its various innovation district assets and how it is a city strong in innovation; how best practice might evolve in areas of activity key to operational success; and how place making and policy may come together to build community engagement, inclusivity and productivity.   This in addition to the work we’ll be bringing forward from last year to look at how we might build sustainability practices and metrics in the world of laboratory development.

We feel the role of innovation districts to power London and support its people is going to be an important part of the New London Agenda.  We will help highlight this and give some clear advice in areas critical to inclusive and progressive success.