Cardiff – UK’s most liveable city
25 October 2016As a civic university, Cardiff is strongly engaged with the local community and has a strong sense of place – we recognise the extent to which our location helps to form our unique identity as an institution. Our relationship with the City of Cardiff is therefore extremely important and highly valued.
We were delighted when we were asked to take part again in the Cardiff Convention 2016, which took place on 13 October in the Wales Millennium Centre. This is an annual event organised by the City of Cardiff. It brings together the leading thinkers in city development to Cardiff.
The city has grown considerably over recent years and a further 26% is predicted, one of the largest expansions in the UK. This brings challenges, so much more so when resources are diminishing and demands increasing. How to mitigate the challenging aspects of growth, e.g. its impact on the environment and wellbeing, was a running theme. The Capital City vision for the future is firmly focussed on economic benefits and sustainability but also on broader measures of success, such as being a healthy, safe and green city. A recent EU Urban Audit identified Cardiff as the UK’s most liveable city, with the sixth highest resident satisfaction. Protecting this quality is a key ambition. The roles of education, skills and technology in creating a liveable city were explored in depth.
I was invited to speak at a workshop that looked at how a city can embrace science and technology. The session was introduced by Gareth Harcombe. Gareth manages the Council’s Energy and Sustainability Team and has responsibility for delivering a range of renewable energy projects, energy efficiency and retrofit activity, and wider sustainable development work. As part of this work he has developed a growing portfolio of research and innovation projects in collaboration with academia, government and commercial partners. A representative from Innovate UK was also present.
I spoke about our plans for the innovation system, an eco-system designed for connecting people, places and partners, which is the key to innovation. The vision is that our new campus will become a focal point for these activities within the city, underpinned by excellent research that is close to market driving industrial, clinical, and public sector innovation.
After the presentations, we broke into groups and reflected on the benefits of a collaborative, city-based approach to science, technology and innovation, also trying to identify the barriers that stand in the way. The consensus was that the best solutions to some of the complex problems faced by the city can only arise from a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, involving a range of stakeholders for more cohesive and sustainable outcomes.
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014