Tonsley Innovation District joins global network of excellence
Tonsley Innovation District has secured its spot on the international stage, becoming a member of the newly created Global Institute on Innovation Districts.
Launched in March, the Global Institute on Innovation Disctricts (GIID), is an independent not-for-profit research organisation made up of 22 handpicked innovation districts worldwide.
To gain GIID membership, innovation districts are required to demonstrate their organised leadership and capabilities to drive transformative and inclusive growth.
Tonsley’s focus sectors - health, medical devices and assistive technologies, cleantech and renewable energy, software and simulation, and mining and energy services - reflect South Australia’s economic strengths and future opportunities.
Tonsley is one of just four districts across Australia chosen to join the network.
GIID membership now connects Tonsley with highly regarded innovation precicnts across the world. This is expected to have wide-reaching benefits for South Australia when it comes to learning best practice from global leaders to bounce back following the pandemic.
Tonsley Innovation District is home to more than 1800 employees, who work across 140 businesses. Some 8500 students also move through the site each year completing study at TAFE SA and Flinders University.
Quotes attributatble to Nick Champion
Tonsley’s not just a project, it’s a world class destination.
Tonsley is a place where entrepreneurs, researchers and businesses, both big and small, are collaborating to solve global problems.
Tonsley’s induction into the GIID is an opportunitiy to boost its international innovation links and form new partnerships.
Quotes attributable to Nadia Clancy
We already knew our community had global appeal - this just makes it official.
This district has become a proud part of our local area, and we are excited to see it reach such great heights.
Quotes attributable to GIID President Julie Wagner
We recognise the unique power when government and local actors are aligned – working in concert to drive higher levels of R&D output and commercialisation, and transforming those acts into a multiplier of growth.
The close alignment between Tonsley and South Australia’s Office of the Chief Scientist caught our attention.
Quotes attributable to SA’s Chief Scientist Professor Caroline McMillen
GIID membership will allow us to learn best practice to further strengthen the performance of SA’s innovation creation hubs like Tonsley Innovation District, which in turn will lead to greater global competitiveness and jobs growth.
We look forward to sharing our measures of how Tonsley has increased business and research collaborations and learning from the experience of our international counterparts.
Quotes attributable to Flinders Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling
Next generation industrial and manufacturing transformation, entrepreneurship, medical device development, cyber business, civil and maritime engineering, and aged care and assistive research have been among Flinders’ Tonsley strengths for some time.
We look forward to contributing our knowledge to the network and seeing what we can glean from other GIID institutions at the cutting-edge in these fields that may elevate our work.
Media Contact
Pamela Perre 0447 525 822
pamela.perre@sa.gov.au
