The initiative dedicated to growing the Auckland North innovation district, Grow North, has taken another step in its evolution with the establishment of an incorporated society.
The society provides the project with a governance structure that will help the initiative achieve its vision to launch, nurture and accelerate innovation in the Auckland North region.
Staff from Massey University, a cornerstone partner to the initiative, will serve as the inaugural society president and vice-president, following the election of ecentre chief executive officer Jackie Young and Professor Ted Zorn, respectively.
Having been established in 2015, the initiative is now entering its second phase of development. During the past three years the initiative has laid the groundwork for future progress, including research into the region’s technology companies.
A report commissioned by the initiative, in association with the Technology Investment Network that profiles 150 technology companies based in the Grow North region, has just been released. It found that 40 of the 150 surveyed companies were ranked in the Technology Investment Network’s top 200 companies nationwide, making Grow North the second largest New Zealand region overall in terms of the number of ranked organisations.
The second phase of development will occur during the next 18 to 24 months. Among the priorities are the establishment of Grow North offices at the B-Hive flexible working space in Smales Farm, securing membership from local businesses and the establishment of work groups focused on a range of topics, including a mentoring programme and industry-education connections.
Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) are the initiative’s other cornerstone partners.
Massey University is committed to being a knowledge hub for the Auckland North region, with bold development plans for its Auckland campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says the vision is for the campus to serve as the heart of a smart innovation district in Auckland North, which is an extremely fast-growing region with huge potential
Last year, the University lodged building consent applications for two major construction projects as part of a $120 million development of its Auckland campus.
The University will construct a 9800 square metre innovation complex, including research laboratories, clinics, teaching spaces, and staff and postgraduate student workspace on the main part of the campus, the East Precinct off the Albany Expressway.
The second consent application is to extend the Sir Neil Waters building, named after the former Vice-Chancellor who established the campus in 1993, to provide additional space.
This will add to the recent library development, world-class student accommodation and student amenities centre, ensuring the University is continuing to grow to meet the demands of a rapidly increasing local population.