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 The famous hut in Writtle where 2MT – and broadcasting - was born
– now relocated to Chelmsford’s Sandford Mill Museum

 Beyond Wireless: Knowledge hubs...
 

This report on Munich (that City again...) is part of a trend where academic and industrial research come together to create an attraction that is aimed at a global specialist audience. An event that drew 32,000 visitors to a trade fair focussed on the world of photonics.

Part of Chelmsford's challenge is a conspicuous shortage of world class accommodation and no exhibition or trade fair capability nearer than Excel in Docklands - despite the potential of Stansted airport.

The whole of East Anglia lacks these facilities, and maybe an answer is to concentrate them with Stansted in mind

Interestingly, all three listed routes from Stansted to Hylands Park take around 40 minutes, and the scenic Roxwell route manages to avoid all towns and traffic bottlenecks. Stansted to Cambridge is 40mins via M11 - other route options take over an hour. And one there, you will have the notoriously Cambridge's traffic-hostile environment to tackle. Another Park and Ride at Hylands would make sense.

There is clearly plenty of space on the Hylands estate for hotel accommodation.

An essential part of this project should be to recognise the fast growing significance of so-called "knowledge hubs" and "smart cities" as proven ways to attract and accelerate new economy businesses and ideas to create the next generation of "techno parks".

These terms are swirling round within the knowledge economy to represent a desirable concentration of shareable expertise - and have various definitions depending on different points of view. In the UK, the term "Knowledge hubs" has been embraced by public sector activists with a mission to "connect the intelligence of the public sector globally"  as set out here.

Outside the UK, the term retains its original implications, which was to establish areas where a self-support infrastructure is being positively encouraged by local politics and other businesses to focus and nurture start ups - especially at the so-called disruptive end of the market.  It has been joined by the term "Smart City" which means largely the same, but an effort is made to expand the concept to include the creation of a complete lifestyle proposition for companies and employment.

The expression "Intellectual Capital" has been developed and reported in a series of examples by http://www.intellectualcapitals.com that emphasise the potential of business travel and meetings within the proposition:-

"We recognise that many advances in technology, science, and medicine are radically changing the social and economic landscape of the global economy. Innovation and collaboration are drivers of change but a destination’s wealth in knowledge and human capital is the new magnet for growth and prosperity.

It has been proposed that given current trends, thirty percent of western industrialised jobs that exist today will no longer exist in just ten years’ time. So where will the growth come from to achieve this transition to a knowledge economy and where can business and individual talent realise the opportunities that these destinations offer?

We believe the Knowledge Economy will be driven by innovation sectors including life sciences, pharma, sustainable living and energy, the world of high-tech, clean-tech, logistics, financial services and others. Many of these have been earmarked by local and national government frameworks as central to growth and future employment within their communities. "

It is unfortunate that our very own University has few science courses on offer, but at least it  covers Tourism Management (....but at the Cambridge Campus). The medically focussed MEDBIC facility described as "Chelmsford’s premium innovation and office space" is a variation on the theme of start-up incubation (pioneered in the 90s in the USA). There is no discernible media or broadcast course content for Chelmsford that reflects any part of the "Radio City" heritage .

One facility tenant has a commendation on the front page of their web site...

We have built up a good relationship with Lizard Design over many years, and have been impressed with the willingness to adapt and tailor website and database applications to our specific requirements, which have undoubtably added to the sucess of our business

Ouch! I am not suggesting that ARU should be expected to proof read everything going on under its aegis, but this seems symptomatic of the need to up the game if we want Chelmsford to be a brand of excellence.