INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 8 Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, United Kingdom – partnership-driven digital connectivity Overview Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) demonstrates how strategic partnerships can transform digital infrastructure into a competitive advantage for innovation districts. Spanning more than half of Liverpool’s city centre, this triple-helix partnership between universities, public sector and private industry has created one of the United Kingdom’s foremost innovation districts through collaborative infrastructure development and deployment. Stakeholders involved Sciontec is the commercial spin-out development company of KQ Liverpool and its model is innovative. Bruntwood SciTech’s investment into Sciontec in 2020 – alongside the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool City Council – catalysed the district’s development company with the transformation of Liverpool Science Park, the progression of HEMISPHERE One and Two lab developments and the recently opened CENTRAL TECH building – all innovation hubs located across KQ Liverpool. Public-private partnership shares costs and benefits of connectivity Central to Sciontec’s digital strategy is its partnership with LCR Connect, a joint venture between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and ITS Technology Group. This collaboration delivers gigabit-capable fibre networks to the district’s digital and engineering-focused tenants at CENTRAL TECH. The partnership model splits ownership equally between public and private sectors, ensuring both commercial viability and public benefit. Rather than requiring massive upfront public investment, the partnership structure allows infrastructure costs to be shared while generating sustainable revenue streams. Addressing the region’s digital divide The approach extends beyond serving innovation district tenants. By anchoring demand through innovation districts such as KQ Liverpool, LCR Connect has expanded its network to cover 345 km2 across the Liverpool City Region, directly addressing the digital divide that often accompanies innovation district development. This demonstrates how innovation districts can catalyse broader digital infrastructure improvements rather than creating isolated pockets of connectivity. Offering local students a future in digital innovation KQ Liverpool’s inclusive innovation programmes further leverage this digital foundation. The KQ Futures initiative uses digital platforms as one way to engage over 1,400 local students annually, from aged 5-18 years, opening the way to careers in innovation. Virtual programming capabilities enable greater participation as well as breaking down barriers to see behind the closed doors of world-leading innovation hubs such as KQ Liverpool’s Digital Innovation Facility. The KQ Futures programme is part-funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Innovation Zone, demonstrating the scale of the partnership with city authorities as well as the integration of policy-making, inclusive growth, and investment in infrastructure and economic development. Source: Knowledge Quarter Liverpool.62 Image credit: Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 37

Innovation Ecosystems 2025