Western Sydney University and Charter Hall have celebrated the opening of the first stage of the Westmead Innovation Quarter (iQ) – a $350 million precinct investment in world-class health, medical and education research that is delivering benefits for the people of western Sydney.
Located in the heart of the Westmead Health and Innovation precinct, iQ brings together Australia’s brightest minds from across the disciplines to share evidence-based research, harness leading technologies and generate health and medical breakthroughs to improve the lives and wellbeing of all Australians.
iQ and the surrounding site is home to the University’s flagship research institutes — the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, NICM Health Research Institute, the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), and Transforming Early Education and Child Health (TeEACH). These institutes are co-located with organisations such as CSIRO, Telstra Health, WentWest and Psych Central, providing an all-important springboard to foster new ideas and inspire innovative research collaborations.
Together, the University’s internationally recognised institutes are delivering translational research that is having a positive, real-world impact. Their collective research expertise spans integrative medicine, diagnostics and therapeutics, preventing and managing chronic disease, mental health, neuroscience and artificial intelligence, early intervention, med-tech, brain-optimised human machine systems, simulation, neuromorphic engineering, health communication, and music in health.
iQ comprise 43,000m² of state-of-the-art health, education and research infrastructure and business space, along with 2,000m² of retail and lifestyle facilities. Vital public transport links – Westmead railway station, the Parramatta Light Rail, Sydney Metro West and the rapid bus Transitway – connect the precinct with the Greater Parramatta region and beyond.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, said iQ is a unique research ecosystem that is all about forging new solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing and persistent healthcare challenges through STEM-related innovation and commercialisation.
“Westmead Innovation Quarter is a major commitment by Western Sydney University. Together with Charter Hall we have developed a ground-breaking research and development facility that draws together leading scientists, clinicians and researchers who can partner with communities, industry and government to deliver unparalleled health and medical outcomes, as well as new commercialisable devices and platforms,” said Professor Glover.
“Set within Australia’s largest concentration of hospital and healthcare services, iQ will elevate Westmead’s status as one of the world’s most advanced health and innovation precincts. We are delighted to partner with Charter Hall to deliver this truly transformational research infrastructure that will no doubt be a catalyst to drive even more investment, research development and employment growth not only for our Greater Western Sydney region, but for the nation.”
Charter Hall Office CEO, Carmel Hourigan, said, “It’s exciting to see the first stage of this innovative precinct open its doors to some of the brightest minds in Australia to collaborate, innovate and to continue making significant, positive contribution to Australians and potentially, the world.
“Working closely with our valued partner Western Sydney University, we have created a world-class precinct that will transform business, health, education and research. With stage 1 commercial space being 100% leased, iQ has already received strong interest from sectors spanning medical research, biotech and government, as we commence stage 2 and get underway with planning for stage 3.”
Westmead Innovation Quarter Stage 1 has been awarded a 6 Star – Green Star – Design & As Built v1.2 certification and is targeting Climate Active Carbon Neutral Building Certification. This represents ‘World Leadership’ in environmentally sustainable building practices.
iQ is part of Western Sydney University’s ‘Western Growth’ strategy – an ambitious program that is co-creating cities and transformative educational infrastructure across Western Sydney, in partnership with industry and government.
The opening of iQ builds on the University’s longstanding education and research presence in Westmead, dating back to the days of the Westmead Teachers’ College. This exciting next chapter in the site’s history will positively transform the health and livelihood of all communities for generations to come.
