Arguably, the case for growth is more urgent than at any time since the end of the Second World War. Today, however, growth cuts a different figure, one in which innovation and cutting-edge research are no longer the bells and whistles of a thriving economy, but the back and shoulders holding it up.

If we are to grow and innovate our way out of crisis, our model for innovation needs to change. It must deliver economic inclusivity; health, social and climate justice. In short, innovation for all.

To get there requires working together more effectively. In the aftermath of COVID-19, collaboration between diverse actors remains a central pillar in building a better and fairer world.

Over the next ten years our unique part of London will see further incredible changes. Next door to the Francis Crick Institute, the British Library is set to expand its site by one million square feet. Across the road from King’s Cross Station, the pharmaceutical giant, MSD, will open a state-of-the-art Discovery Centre, and, within a five-minute walk, Google will have occupied the world’s first ‘landscraper’. In the coming years, the Knowledge Quarter area will likely be the site of some of the most important scientific discoveries and technological advances of the century.

The Knowledge Quarter Conference 2023 invites all those involved in this story to consider how we harness this extraordinary innovation capacity for the benefit of all, and for a better tomorrow.

The Programme

Over the course of a busy day-long programme, researchers, practitioners and thought leaders will showcase their activity across our five intersecting themes: Innovation, Sustainability, Wellbeing, People and Place.

Panel discussions and parallel sessions will explore challenges and obstacles faced by innovators in these areas, while keynote speakers will reflect on what innovation means, how it is fostered, and how it can include all of society.

We invite you to expand your network, meet your neighbours, and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of this part of London for the rest of the UK, and why cities all over the world are looking to the Knowledge Quarter as an exemplary innovation district.

About the Knowledge Quarter

The Knowledge Quarter is a partnership of over 100 organisations situated within a one-mile radius of King’s Cross. The Knowledge Quarter area contains one of the highest concentrations of knowledge-producing organisations found anywhere in the world. Encompassing the arts, culture, research, higher education and life-sciences institutions, as well as developers, community organisations and local Government, our partnership has helped to redefine the area as a booming innovation district. Our members include the British Library, the British Museum, Central Saint Martins, Google, Royal Veterinary Collge, UCL and Wellcome.