25 July 2016: One of the world's leading authorities in open innovation, smart-cities and the creation of innovation districts, Professor Josep Piqué, will share his expertise in transforming urban developments into smart, collaborative, innovative hubs during a public lecture at the University of Canberra TOMORROW.
Professor Piqué, who led the 22@Barcelona project and is currently the vice-president of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, will talk about new ways of transforming urban spaces into more interactive and sustainable places, which will enrich the users' experience.
In his presentation, Innovation districts and UC campus development, a nexus of opportunity, Professor Piqué will discuss the formation and growth of 22@Barcelona, and what other cities around the world are doing in developing smart-city precincts.
22@Barcelona is one of Europe's biggest urban regeneration schemes, transforming 200-hectares of industrial land in the Spanish city into an innovative district offering modern spaces for intensive knowledge-based activities. Investment in 22@Barcelona reached approximately 200 million Euros and it created 90,000 new jobs.
Professor Piqué said embracing a new way of planning and developing a city and engaging with innovative ways to do business was an important lesson from Barcelona, which could benefit Canberra.
"In the Knowledge Economy, talent is a raw material, and it is universities, such as the University of Canberra, which are the mines," Professor Piqué said. "That has been a key lesson from 22@Barcelona.
"The University of Canberra has all the ingredients to develop the first Area of Innovation in Australia and that's going to be an amazing opportunity for the city as well."
- Professor Piqué is available for interview. His schedule is limited so please contact the University's media team.
WHAT: Public lecture - Innovation districts and UC campus development, a nexus of opportunity by Professor Josep Piqué.
WHEN: Wednesday, 27 July 6:00pm – 7:30pm
WHERE: Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra, Bruce ACT (campus map)
Josep Miquel Piqué is the vice-president of the International Association of Science Parks, President of XPCAT (Catalan Network of Science Parks) and vice-president of APTE (Spanish Network of Science Parks).
Professor Piqué, a telecommunications engineer, has extensive professional experience in university management; leading postgraduate programs, technology transfer centres, university incubators and innovation science and technology parks.
During his years at La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull, as director of the Innovation Park of La Salle Barcelona, he fostered the creation of technology-based companies, with a particular focus on 'Born Global Companies'.
He has published papers regarding Innovation Ecosystems, and has participated in several international forums in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Italy and UK), America (Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, USA) and Asia (Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Japan and China).
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362
Marcus Butler: 0438 477 810