New Knowledge Quarter launched by the Chancellor

The new Knowledge Quarter, a partnership of 35 academic, cultural, research, scientific and media organisations based in Kings Cross, Euston and Bloomsbury, was launched by the Chancellor, George Osborne today at the British Library in London.

The members, which range from the Francis Crick Institute, the British Museum and the University of the Arts London to the Digital Catapult, Wellcome Trust, The Guardian and the Aga Khan University, will work together to share their information, ideas, research and innovation. The aim of the Knowledge Quarter is to make the outstanding facilities, collections and expertise of its members understood, available and used as widely as possible for the benefit of researchers, creative people, students and the local community.

The objectives of the Knowledge Quarter are:

  • To facilitate knowledge exchange and identify opportunities to collaborate and achieve efficiencies between members;
  • To identify and support local environment and infrastructure projects with Camden Council, the GLA and TfL;
  • To raise awareness of the value of the Knowledge Quarter and its resources with stakeholders;
  • To support the local community by improving access to its resources and collections.

Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library and Chair of the Knowledge Quarter said on the launch: "The area around King's Cross, St Pancras and Euston stations is a gateway to the most valuable commodity of the 21st century - knowledge. Just as the great Victorian railway engineers built a revolutionary transport hub for people and goods in this part of London, so the Knowledge Quarter will establish an interchange for creative ideas, research and innovation: a centre for the knowledge economy in the 21st century."

As well as established organisations, the Knowledge Quarter includes the Crick and Google, which is to build its new UK headquarters in King's Cross.

Clustered around King's Cross, the Euston Road and Bloomsbury is an incredible range of knowledge resources and expertise, ranging from the world's earliest books and manuscripts to the latest fashion and creative designs and cutting-edge medical research.

Together, members of the Knowledge Quarter employ over 30,000 people, turn over more than £2bn, work with 3,500 volunteers, and serve more than 8m visitors annually.

The Knowledge Quarter is governed by a Board of nine organisations: the British Library, Art Fund, the British Museum, Camden Council, Guardian News and Media, The Royal College of GPs, the Wellcome Trust, UCL and the University of the Arts.   The other partner organisations make up a Steering Group that manages the Knowledge Quarter's activities.

For further information and a full list of the members click here. 

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