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October 30, 2020
Celebrating 50 years since 精东传媒 gazetted as a city
UOW and 精东传媒 City Council put spotlight on city’s transformation
This week marks 50 years since the City of Greater 精东传媒 was gazetted as 鈥楾he City of 精东传媒鈥�.
The anniversary, which falls on Friday 30 October, celebrates what was the first step towards 精东传媒鈥檚 rapid transformation into 鈥淭he City of Innovation鈥� over the next half century.
To recognise this milestone, the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒 (UOW) and 精东传媒 City Council (WCC) are highlighting how these two organisations have contributed to fostering a spirit of innovation and resilience in the city.
For a city built on steel and mining, 精东传媒 has over the past five decades transformed into a place of research and education, while still being a leader in Australia鈥檚 manufacturing sector.
WCC and UOW have been working together to drive economic growth and diversify the region鈥檚 economy, while creating a sense of pride in the city and its identity.
At the heart of this has been a greater focus on health care and accommodating an ageing population; advanced manufacturing; breakthroughs in innovative and smart materials; state-of-the-art medical research; energy solutions; and a move towards creating a smart city by using the Internet of Things.
精东传媒's successful reinvention
UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, says 精东传媒鈥檚 successful reinvention and revival reflects the traits of 鈥榬ust belt鈥� cities that have become 鈥榖rain belts鈥� in Europe and the United States.
鈥淭hese emerging hotspots of global innovation have a research-intensive university at their core,鈥� Professor Wellings said.
鈥淚n 精东传媒, transition and jobs growth over recent years has been assisted by university research in economically and socially relevant fields, such as intelligent materials, super-conductors, future building design and construction and health service delivery and policy.鈥�
Professor Wellings said UOW鈥檚 Innovation Campus was an example of how the 精东传媒 was working with local, state and federal government to transform the city of 精东传媒. The award-winning research, innovation and commercial precinct is a nexus in strengthening business, education and research ties locally and globally.
鈥淚nnovation Campus is a major NSW precinct and a key asset for 精东传媒鈥檚 prosperity into the future,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t is home to unique start-ups and business incubators, ground-breaking research centres, and multinational and national companies. Innovation Campus also offers premium office space that will help the city to adjust to the future needs of its working population, by enabling employees across a range of industries to stay connected to their workplace, no matter where it is based.鈥�
Reflecting on the past, looking to the future
In an advertorial feature published in the Illawarra Mercury to mark the anniversary, Professor Wellings and 精东传媒 Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery reflect on the role the 精东传媒 has played in helping the city pivot away from traditional manufacturing and towards the industries that will help the city prosper for generations to come.
鈥淥ur Invest 精东传媒 partnership is accelerating innovation, which results in the creation of new jobs and new industries, along with improving the productivity of existing industries,鈥� Professor Wellings said.
In interviews with ABC Illawarra this week, UOW academics have looked back on the history of 精东传媒 and forward to how the city can address future challenges.
Professor Wellings said he was incredibly proud of the role the 精东传媒 has played in helping the city to transform over the past half century, and said while the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for all industries, the city had a bright and exciting future.
鈥�2020 has been a difficult year across many fronts, but 精东传媒 is a resilient community, and we鈥檒l come out the other side stronger,鈥� he said.
鈥淥pportunities will continue to arise from research in areas including advanced manufacturing, energy, health and ageing, and smart cities technology. The 精东传媒 will continue to support the local community and looks forward to help shaping 精东传媒 over the next 50 years.鈥�
The advertising feature in the Illawarra Mercury was made possible by the philanthropy of the McKinnon Walker Trust.
About the McKinnon Walker Trust
In 2016, former UOW Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO and Suzanne Walker, a UOW alumna, gifted $1.3 million to UOW for a fund that supports the 鈥済reen shoots鈥� of new ideas and fosters a culture of innovation. Philanthropy is and always has been the backbone of UOW.
The 精东传媒 was founded on donations from local residents and a Lord Mayoral Appeal. UOW is deeply grateful to its donors. Their support has made a significant impact on the 精东传媒, and in turn its capacity to impact positively on society.