Driving innovation in western Sydney
The University of Sydney - as part of the Westmead health, education and research precinct - has partnered with Sydney Science Park to make western Sydney one of Australia's largest knowledge hubs.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence said the partnership will help to create more highly skilled jobs in western Sydney.
“This partnership with Sydney Science Park creates promising opportunities to collaborate closely on industry engagement, health research and policy, including the development of medical and biological technology. The opportunity to share resources and information for the benefit of western Sydney and the wider community is a welcome addition to our deep commitment to the future of the Westmead precinct,” Dr Spence said.
NSW Minister for Education Rob Stokes welcomed the signing of the agreement during a visit to the precinct on 26 July.
"The partnership between the Westmead precinct and Sydney Science Park cements western Sydney as a world-leader in research and innovation," Mr Stokes said.
“The rapid growth of western Sydney requires the creation of more high-quality, knowledge- based jobs; it is precincts like Westmead and Sydney Science Park that will provide these jobs of the future.”
Under the MOU, Sydney Science Park and Westmead precinct members will establish presences on each other’s campuses. The other members of the Westmead precinct include Western Sydney Local Health District, The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Westmead Private Hospital, Western Sydney University, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and The Children’s Medical Research Institute.
This partnership builds on the University’s existing commitment to the Westmead precinct, including:
- $48 million to the building of the Central Acute Services Building
- around $500m over the next 15 years to grow Westmead to a campus that will host 6,000 students
- the establishment of the Sydney Health Data Coalition to apply state of the art data science to diverse challenges in health services and research.
Westmead is one of the largest health, education, research and training precincts in Australia with more than $3 billion worth of investment committed by government, universities and the private sector over the next decade to upgrade and expand the Westmead precinct’s facilities.