KQ Liverpool – A Year In Review – 2022

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As we return to the office after the festive break, we can’t help but reflect on the connections made, knowledge shared and the unique developments launched across the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) innovation district during 2022.

We didn’t see our bid to become an Investment Zone progress with the Government, but we have seen other partnership bids within KQ Liverpool succeed, proving alignment of the City Regions strengths with the vital importance of health and life sciences, materials chemistry and manufacturing technology to the UK economy. 

It was an honour to host almost 80 delegates throughout the year, who were visiting Liverpool City Region via Trade Missions, research visits and international conferences. We welcomed visitors from all over the world, including the Federation University in Ballarat, Australia, the US Embassy, and the Department for International Trade in China, and showed them around the fantastic facilities within our world-leading Innovation District. 

Our team also travelled the country representing KQ Liverpool, both as speakers and delegates, at many launch events, conferences and roundtables, including The Convention of the North, Real Estate Live, Digital Manufacturing Week, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce’s Innovation in Business Awards, LSTM’s 125 Campaign Launch at the House of Commons, and the LCR Mental Health and Work Summit.

It was rewarding to give back to our innovative community by hosting a series of free drop-in sessions, in which our business support programme expert advisors gave organisations bespoke guidance for business growth. 

We also engaged with hundreds of young people in Liverpool City Region through our newly launched school’s programme, Sixth Form into Science, inspiring the next generation of innovators, creators and researchers, and via our cultural programme, KQ Culture, helping to establish a long lasting legacy for our innovation district. 

Other key highlights throughout the past 12 months include:

  • Supporting the rapid progression of Paddington Village, including the completion of Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village and the granting of planning permission for the site’s next new build, Sciontec’s HEMISPHERE.
  • Welcoming many new businesses into our innovation district, including Elida Beauty, Cashplus Bank and Pierian Biosciences.
  • The landing of the second High Value Manufacturing Catapult into KQ Liverpool at Liverpool Science Park, the CPI, alongside MTC’s expansion, helping businesses, researchers and government deliver industrial transformation in the UK.
  • The official completion of the University of Liverpool’s Digital Innovation Facility, and Liverpool John Moores University’s Student Life Building, as well as the successful launch of Sciontec’s All Inclusive (AI) workspace at The Spine.
  • The opening of the new Royal Liverpool Liverpool University Hospital, which marked the beginning of a new era of healthcare in the city, and Pembroke House, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s new state-of-art home for Research & Development, innovation and education.
  • Continuing to support the world’s first end-to-end response to pandemics as a Steering Group and Founding Member of The Pandemic Institute, alongside six other partners.
  • Ongoing involvement with the UK Innovation Districts Group and Connected Places Catapult, including attending the launch of the UKIDG and CPC Research Commission on Inclusive Innovation and policy roundtable in Belfast.
  • Congratulating our partners Liverpool John Moores University,University of Liverpool, and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for leading the way in the latest Research Excellence Framework.
  • Enhancing our innovation services by onboarding new partners iiCON and Arete Zero Carbon to our business support programme, KQ Grow.

As we now look to the year ahead, we can’t wait to launch some exciting  additional business support programmes, host more community events and continue to push the inclusive innovation agenda across our world leading innovation district. 2023 is set to be busier than ever!