Third Report: Land and Building Issues
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Cape Higher Education Consortium THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR DRIVING INNOVATION IN THE WESTERN CAPE Research Report 3: Land and building issues 9 December 2010 Prepared by ODA and Allan Taylor Consulting Allan Taylor Consulting © CHEC, 2010 Contact details: ODA (Pty) Ltd Contact Martin Nicol Practice Leader: Economic Policy and Research, ODA Postal address PO Box 16526, Vlaeberg, 8018 Physical address Unit F3, 155 Loop Street, Cape Town. Telephone 021 4222 970 Facsimile 021 4222 934 Cell phone 082 554 9880 E-mail [email protected] Web www.oda.co.za Allan Taylor Consulting Contact Allan Taylor Telephone 021.685.4304 Facsimile 086.671.7437 Cell phone 072.200.5900 E-mail [email protected] Contents Background – explaining where the report fits in ..................................................................... 5 Part 1: Science park issues .................................................................................................. 7 The Science Park Landscape in the Western Cape .............................................................................. 7 Part 2: The Bellville science park proposal ........................................................................... 12 Cape Town, space and innovation ...................................................................................................... 14 Current Cape Town Practice ............................................................................................................... 16 Bellville ................................................................................................................................................ 17 The area and its parts ......................................................................................................................... 20 Vacant and underutilised land ........................................................................................................... 21 Linking key “installations” ................................................................................................................. 22 Start “at home” ................................................................................................................................... 23 Belcon edges as a future opportunity ................................................................................................ 24 A Long-Term Vision ........................................................................................................................... 25 Instruments of Governance ............................................................................................................... 25 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 29 Appendix: Interviews and documents on the Bellville Science Park....................................... 31 CHEC document on the Bellville science park (2009) ...................................................................... 31 Interview with Ms Jo Ann Johnston, Chief Director: Trade and Sector Development, DEDT ...... 31 Interview Mr David Gretton, Executive Support Officer to the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism, City of Cape Town .............................................................. 33 City of Cape Town (2009) “Transnet Marshalling Yards (Bellcon)” (extract from the Executive summary of the Tygerberg District planning document), August 2009 ......................................... 34 Third Report: Land and Building Issues Page 3 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms BIZ Bellville Innovation Zone CBD Central Business District CEO Chief Executive Officer CHEC Cape Higher Education Consortium CHTP Cape Health Technology Park COFISA Cooperation Framework on Innovation Systems between Finland and SA CPUT Cape Peninsula University of Technology CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research DEDT Department of Economic Development & Tourism, Western Cape Provincial Government DST Department of Science and Technology the dti Department of Trade and Industry ECDI East City Design Initiative EMF Environmental Management Framework HEI Higher Education Institution IASP International Association of Science Parks ICT information and communications technology IDP Integrated Development Plan INTELI Inteligência em Inovação, Lisbon IP Intellectual Property MRC Medical Research Council of South Africa NACI National Advisory Council on Innovation NRF National Research Foundation OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development PGWC Provincial Government of the Western Cape PPP Public Private Partnership PSC Project Steering Committee R&D Research and Development SARChI South African Research Chairs Initiative SDP Spatial Development Plan SP science park SPV Special Purpose Vehicle SRA Special Rating Area SU Stellenbosch University TIA Technology Innovation Agency TTO Technology Transfer Office UCT University of Cape Town URP university research park UWC University of the Western Cape VC venture capital Third Report: Land and Building Issues Page 4 Background – explaining where the report fits in ODA and Allan Taylor Consulting were appointed by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) (on behalf of CHEC) in July 2010 to undertake a six month research assignment on Developing a Conceptual Model for Driving Innovation in the Western Cape. The study is to support CHEC discussions and decision making on science parks and other interventions to maximise the role of universities in innovation in the Western Cape. The original proposal for the project which was approved by the DST focused specifically on a science park in Bellville and the intention is that the research process will allow a decision about this matter to be taken. The current proposal takes a broader view and considers the demand for physical infrastructure to promote innovation in the context of a strategy for or an analysis of “innovation culture”. The study will consider the best set of regional initiatives (which may or may not include a science park) for the Western Cape, prioritising the role that can be played by HEIs. The project programme specifies the following activity schedule: Jul- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- 10 10 10 10 10 10 Project Initiation Situation Analysis in the Western Cape Careful review of COFISA report Review of other documentation Targeted interviews – W Cape Targeted interviews – Gauteng Research Report 1 International lessons and examples Review of literature Research Report 2 Land and building issues Issues related to the Bellville site Other possible site issues Research Report 3 (including insights from R1&R2) Consultations with PSC Workshop with Provincial Stakeholders Final reports Third Report: Land and Building Issues Page 5 A service level agreement was entered into between UWC and ODA Pty (Ltd) in July 2010 which includes the terms of reference for the project. This third report focuses on development considerations for the “Bellville Precinct”. This is approached from the perspective of CHECs wish to help to chart a way forward in which the innovation work of the four universities can best be facilitated and the benefits maximised. Third Report: Land and Building Issues Page 6 Part 1: Science park issues The original proposal for this project focused specifically on a science park in Bellville. UWC initially secured funding from the DST to develop a “business plan” for the Bellville Science Park. CHEC’s view was that this was premature and that, in the first instance, a study needed to be undertaken to explore how best universities could contribute to promoting innovation in the Western Cape. A revised proposal was submitted to the DST and the consultants were appointed to undertake the current study The first two research streams (which have been reported upon in Reports 1 and 2) presented a situation analysis, a reflection on international experiences and a case study on The Innovation Hub as a local example of a science park. The third research stream has looked at land and building issues and its specific task is to provide information that will allow the Project Steering Committee to recommend to CHEC whether the Bellville science park possibility should be pursued and also to consider whether to authorise further research into other sites for a science park in the Western Cape. The Bellville issue is discussed in detail below. On the general issue of a science park, the research argues against CHEC (or the Regional Innovation Forum, for that matter) making the pursuit of “a” science park a particular goal. There are already several science park initiatives under way. The recommended conceptual model for driving innovation (as outlined in Report 2, page 38 et seq.) recommends that universities should support regional initiatives to drive innovation both individually and collectively, where this is useful. The Science Park Landscape in the Western Cape There are at least six Science Park – type developments/initiatives in the Western Cape in 2010. None are officially recognised as science parks, by virtue of membership or associate membership of the International Association of Science Parks. Two are business parks that were initially launched as science parks. Two are proposals that are actively promoted by the City and province and have varying levels of HEI involvement. One is at a conceptual stage. One is a general proposal for a science park that has, as yet, no site in mind. Third Report: Land and Building Issues Page 7