Bill Zheng | Executive Chairman & Co-Founder |
Ross Martiensen | Co-Founder |
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Global Innovation Districts for Australia
Australian Education City (AEC) was founded in 2014 with a simple vision - to develop global innovation districts and world-class cities.
In the initial years, AEC worked exclusively with the Victorian Government in response to an international tender for the 412 hectare East Werribee Employment Precinct (EWEP) development, and was awarded the status of preferred and exclusive bidder in late 2016. Since then, AEC has received great interest in its model and is currently working with other councils and states to develop smaller versions of its initial model. Each city the we will develop will be seen as an exemplar of future living.
Global Innovation Districts are important to Australia for many reasons, including the following key public benefits:
In the initial years, AEC worked exclusively with the Victorian Government in response to an international tender for the 412 hectare East Werribee Employment Precinct (EWEP) development, and was awarded the status of preferred and exclusive bidder in late 2016. Since then, AEC has received great interest in its model and is currently working with other councils and states to develop smaller versions of its initial model. Each city the we will develop will be seen as an exemplar of future living.
Global Innovation Districts are important to Australia for many reasons, including the following key public benefits:
Paradigm Shift
Many Australian cities have traditionally been neglected by the government, even in regions with the fastest growing population. Many regions also do not current attract significant private investment from the private sector.
AEC is the first major international consortium which comprises global companies and institutions from Australia, US, Europe, and other major Asian countries, that has committed to investing a total of $31 billion over a period of 30 years - for the East Werribee Employment Precinct Project. Without reliance on government funding, AEC will set a new trend for future investments and job creation from both the private and public sectors for years to come.
AEC is the first major international consortium which comprises global companies and institutions from Australia, US, Europe, and other major Asian countries, that has committed to investing a total of $31 billion over a period of 30 years - for the East Werribee Employment Precinct Project. Without reliance on government funding, AEC will set a new trend for future investments and job creation from both the private and public sectors for years to come.
Top Quality Education & Innovation Destinations
Many Australian cities currently lack top quality tertiary education providers, and require more prestige high schools to cater for the growing migrant population who possess strong academic and employment qualifications, and now demand better quality education for their children.
AEC is able to bring many ARWU Top 400 universities from Australia, Europe and Asia, leading TAFE institutions and prestigious high schools to our location. Over the last five years, AEC has signed many agreements with leading education partners.
AEC is able to bring many ARWU Top 400 universities from Australia, Europe and Asia, leading TAFE institutions and prestigious high schools to our location. Over the last five years, AEC has signed many agreements with leading education partners.
Turning Australia's R&D Capacity into Real Local Jobs
While Australia’s research capacity is world class, our ability to commercialise our research ranks second last in all OECD countries, despite the government’s effort of creating 114 innovation precincts in Australia, none of which is of scale and global significance. This is mainly due to the lack of industry partnership with our currently silo university approach in the area of research, as well as the lack of global market participants to our relatively small (and isolated) population.
AEC is creating an Innovation District that is of global significance and scale. Importantly, it is industry-focused and export-oriented, and invites significant industry participants from our regions to participate in collaborative research with Australian universities in one big investment and market friendly eco-system at EWEP. The collaborative campus will include best of breed faculties that tap into the latest trends in job creation, utilising the participating industry partners’ own domestic market for commercialisation opportunities.
This model is not new globally, but it is a first in Australia. It is time for Australia to create a global innovation district that will establish and further promote our technological leadership in the region.
AEC is creating an Innovation District that is of global significance and scale. Importantly, it is industry-focused and export-oriented, and invites significant industry participants from our regions to participate in collaborative research with Australian universities in one big investment and market friendly eco-system at EWEP. The collaborative campus will include best of breed faculties that tap into the latest trends in job creation, utilising the participating industry partners’ own domestic market for commercialisation opportunities.
This model is not new globally, but it is a first in Australia. It is time for Australia to create a global innovation district that will establish and further promote our technological leadership in the region.
Turning Future Cities into Global Export Centres of Cognitive Urban Living Technology
There are roughly 4,200 cities with over 150,000 residents globally, according to IBM which is currently the world leader in cognitive technology; soon, every city in the world will be a Cognitive City. A Cognitive City is a level above a Smart City. It is a city that is not only smart, but can learn and think for its residents. Currently, many cities are being built or enhanced to incorporate the Smart City component, but none are cognitive yet.
AEC, with the support from IBM Global, has committed to build the world’s first Cognitive City at EWEP, which will forever change the brand and perception of Melbourne’s West. AEC has committed $500m to support IBM to put in cognitive infrastructure in more than 105 areas of urban living at EWEP, and IBM has also committed to creating the CCIC (Cognitive Cities Innovation Center) at EWEP, to bring IBM’s global research capacity and funding to EWEP to help deploy and develop IBM’s cognitive urban living technologies.
The number of high value jobs related to the Cognitive City aspect alone – in areas such as research, policy making, investment, technology development and marketing – will be tens of thousands both domestically and
globally.
AEC, with the support from IBM Global, has committed to build the world’s first Cognitive City at EWEP, which will forever change the brand and perception of Melbourne’s West. AEC has committed $500m to support IBM to put in cognitive infrastructure in more than 105 areas of urban living at EWEP, and IBM has also committed to creating the CCIC (Cognitive Cities Innovation Center) at EWEP, to bring IBM’s global research capacity and funding to EWEP to help deploy and develop IBM’s cognitive urban living technologies.
The number of high value jobs related to the Cognitive City aspect alone – in areas such as research, policy making, investment, technology development and marketing – will be tens of thousands both domestically and
globally.
Establishing Second-CBDs for High Value Jobs (East Werribee Employment Precinct Example)
Western Victoria has struggled to attract good quality local jobs for many years. As it currently does not have the infrastructure and history to attract international student and tourism revenues, its pace of improvement has always been slower than the more established regions of Victoria. Unless there is one significant game changer to accelerate positive changes, the West will always be the first to cop the toxic soil dump or the Youth Justice Centre. The AEC Innovation District will cater for 50,000 students, half of which are international students. This will have a significant and positive impact on local tourism opportunities as parents and families will visit the region each year. It will also attract other opportunities such as medical tourism and trade, and will significantly accelerate the West, including Avalon Airport.
Adding Value to Local Education Institutions
While AEC and its consortium partners (many of which are Global 500 companies) are bringing their international capabilities to attract students, research institutes and industries that will from part of the AEC Innovation District will no doubt boost reputation and brand recognition for local schools, TAFEs and universities – such as Victoria University. EWEP will become a destination of leading education, research and industry partnerships, and all existing local players will benefit highly from the prompt influx of business opportunities and investment traffic.
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
EWEP needs significant investment commitment and a breakaway innovation concept to set a new trend, as well as real momentum in order to be successful. Typically, more established companies and institutions lack true innovation and initiatives, and conversely, most innovative companies lack the financial strength as well as experience to deliver. Over the last five years, AEC has been able to do both. It commenced the bid process with an innovative vision and subsequently designed a workable and carefully staged plan in order to obtain support from its consortium of Global 500 companies and ARWU Top 400 research universities.
AEC has also been able to secure full funding for the entire project without relying on government funding, or giving up control to foreign ownership. This is a highly innovative aspect of the AEC Project – one which will set a new trend for future major projects in Victoria and Australia.
AEC has also been able to secure full funding for the entire project without relying on government funding, or giving up control to foreign ownership. This is a highly innovative aspect of the AEC Project – one which will set a new trend for future major projects in Victoria and Australia.
Our ThinkingThought-leadership is at the heart of our vision. We feel it is important to share emerging trends and our views on what future cities will look like.
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