The Innovation Precinct
Transforming Christchurch through collaboration, connections and coffee
CHRISTCHURCH HAS LONG needed an innovation hub – a centre where the city’s entrepreneurs, ICT companies, scientists, researchers and education experts could come together to share knowledge, collaborate on projects and keep in touch with the latest ideas over a cup of coffee.
After the Christchurch earthquake, the need became even more urgent, as many of the city’s most innovative companies, researchers and individuals were forced out of the centre and into relative isolation in the suburbs – or away from Canterbury altogether.
But ironically, the devastation of the earthquake has also provided both the catalyst and the physical space for the innovation hub the city has long wanted.
Over the next five years, the new Innovation Precinct will see business, education, and local and central government come together to develop the 3.6 hectare central city area, bordered by Lichfield, Madras, Manchester and St Asaph Streets, into the world class Christchurch Innovation Precinct.
It is intended that the Innovation Precinct will bring together businesses, innovators, and an ICT graduate school, alongside residential, retail, hospitality and professional service providers to create a vibrant and exciting new part of Christchurch.
Internationally, innovation precincts attract talented people, encourage interaction and creativity, and are proven to help foster innovation. This in turn builds business growth, jobs and economic success.
The project has attracted significant interest since being officially launched earlier this year, says Peter Crabtree, general manager, at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
In conjunction with the Government’s announcement, Vodafone declared that it would be the Innovation Precinct’s first anchor tenant, investing approximately $50 million in an expanded main South Island office, and its first New Zealand based Xone incubator.
The Xone incubator, one of only six similar Vodafone incubators in the world, will provide advice, support and assistance to technology start-ups focused on mobile platforms, consumer electronics, smart charging and automotive technologies.
Building has already started on the 10,000 square metre five-level office building, and Vodafone expects to move in next year.
At the same time the Government has announced it will set up a co-working innovation hub within the Precinct to provide an innovative, collaborative and supportive working space for early-stage firms and start-ups.
“Internationally, it’s been shown that innovation precincts work best when they bring together a good mix of larger established players, innovative start-ups, and research and teaching facilities,” Mr Crabtree says.
“However start-ups often can’t afford the high rental cost of new offices. Offering a lower rent option for them in this knowledge-rich environment among other innovators will help them grow and expand, and provide an ideal mix of small and large firms within the Precinct.” Callaghan Innovation’s and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s businessfacing services will also be located in the Precinct, as well as one of the three new ICT Graduate Schools announced in June.
Crabtree says confirming an anchor tenant and announcing the Government’s long-term commitment to the Christchurch Innovation Precinct, has reduced the risk for other potential developers and companies considering moving into the area.
“People that were on the fringe of being excited are now starting to get involved in discussions. We are expecting to see more developments announced over the next few months, more deals made and more innovative firms connecting into the Precinct’s innovative eco-system.
“It’s a staged development, but we’d like to see completion within about five years.”
Kaila Colbin is from the Ministry of Awesome, a not-for-profit based in a building on the edge of the Christchurch Innovation Precinct. The organisation works to create
a more vibrant, activated and connected Christchurch, and Colbin says the Innovation Precinct is an important part of that.
“For me, innovation is what happens when … you bring people from disparate industries, projects and perspectives together, combine them and see what happens.”
“A great example of that can be found at the C1 Espresso café [located in one of the remaining heritage buildings on the Innovation Precinct site].” On any given day when you walk into C1, you will see dozens of people who are all working on really interesting projects in Christchurch, all hanging out with each other.
“It’s a great place to bump into people and to have that ideas exchange that is essential in order for innovation to happen.”
Meanwhile Paul Naylor from Studio D4, which acts as a broker between property owners within the Innovation Precinct area and businesses, says the dynamic between research facilities and business will be crucial.
“Having the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology adjacent to the Innovation Precinct will be a great driver for firms to locate themselves here so they can feed off the graduates. Other benefits for tenants include the proximity to the bus interchange and the high- density residential area just north of the Precinct.”
Vodafone’s head of property Rachel Winder says the Precinct idea is a good fit with Vodafone’s culture.
“We actively encourage and provide facilities to innovators. By being located in the Christchurch Innovation Precinct we’re consolidating our direct sales, customer experience teams, technology staff, customer care staff, and our enterprise teams into a single collaborative space together with a retail unit for consumers and enterprises alike.
“We’re looking forward to experiencing a great centre of collaboration and innovation based on a social network business model. Christchurch has a bright future and it needs forward-thinking companies seeking a longterm relationship. It’s going to be a great place to work and live.”
“Innovation is what happens when you bring people from disparate industries, projects and perspectives together, combine them and see what happens. ”