Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter has unveiled a five-year plan to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and fuel the city's economic resurgence.
KQ Liverpool today launches its new strategic vision for the next five years, which includes responding to challenges caused by the virus, as well as laying out a roadmap for "ambitious yet sustainable" future growth.
The innovation district said the KQ Liverpool 2025 Vision had been developed in consultation with over 60 key stakeholders.
Liverpool Council's City Mayor, Joe Anderson, said: “In just four years, the KQ Liverpool Mayoral Development Zone has put Liverpool on the global innovation map.
"I’m confident that this strategy will enable us to push on further with the transformation of our city’s economy to a focus on world leading health, science and technology.
"Upper Central and Paddington Village are key components of our vision of creating opportunities based on the innovation and excellence we already have in the city.”
The vision was formed following a consultation process with city leaders, innovators and change-makers, which started at the beginning of the year.
It reflects on the "substantial success" of the KQ Liverpool Mayoral Development Zone since its inception in 2016, and goes on to provide a picture of what the future will look like for the growing innovation district as part of a thriving city region over the next five years.
The vision encompasses five key areas of focus that will bring together the aspirations of its partner and stakeholder organisations, whilst also responding to both the city and city region’s economic recovery plans.
It references new KQ Liverpool developments, including new commercial space at Paddington Central, the HILL at Paddington North and Central Park, and the expansion of the near fully occupied Liverpool Science Park.
According to KQ Liverpool, the five highlighted areas of focus are attracting and retaining talent, growing businesses and attracting inward investment, being a better neighbour, collaborating with purpose and creating a smarter city.
Colin Sinclair, chief executive of KQ Liverpool and Sciontec Liverpool, said: “The timing of this launch could not be more crucial, as we in Liverpool, and across the globe, plan our economic recovery from coronavirus.
"We know it’s not over yet and that only by creativity, flexibility and ingenuity will we get through this together using culture and innovation to fuel Liverpool's economic resurgence.
“Our new strategic plan to drive forward our health, life sciences and tech innovation district will empower Liverpool and the wider city region to adapt more quickly, play to our strengths and push forward with positivity.”
Professor Dame Janet Beer, chair of KQ Liverpool and Sciontec Liverpool, added: “KQ Liverpool is a place that is greater than the sum of its parts, linking up like-minded cultural and commercial organisations, academics, clinicians and scientists, to promote the world-class innovation that exists within our city region.
“Our 2025 vision will shape the delivery of our strategic growth plan, enabling KQ Liverpool to use the changing economic landscape to seize new opportunities.”
