G'day,

Welcome to another edition of the Liverpool Innovation Precinct Newsletter.

This quarter we spotlight a new report from the Sydney Innovation District Alliance, which shows where Liverpool fits within the city’s innovation landscape

There's also plenty happening across the Precinct, with our partners hosting university open days, health innovation events and founder programs.

While there was some welcome news in the recent Federal and NSW Budgets, there is still much more to do. The LIP will continue advocating for the investment and policy attention needed to unlock Liverpool’s potential.

Liverpool shouldn’t have to choose between getting the basics right and a bold vision for the future – it deserves both.

Regards,

David Borger

Liverpool on Innovation Map

A new report by the Sydney Innovation District Alliance, The Sydney Innovation Atlas: Mapping Australia’s Innovation City, has highlighted Liverpool’s growing importance within Australia’s leading innovation economy.

Liverpool was identified as a key innovation district, recognised for strengths in cancer research, clinical trials, medical devices and health technologies. The city’s innovation ecosystem is supported by organisations and universities including the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Perich Centre for Robotics, Consortium for Medical Device Technologies and the Trans-Tasman Biobridge.

Jeremy Gill, report author, Head of Policy at the Committee for Sydney and Chair of the Sydney Innovation District Alliance, said the Atlas was about helping Sydney tell a clearer innovation story: “This atlas of innovation is the first step in turning that around and saying to local startups and international businesses alike, there is a home for you to land and grow in Sydney.”

The findings position Liverpool within an interconnected network of innovation districts spanning Bradfield, Westmead, Bankstown and Macquarie Park, reinforcing its role as a major contributor to Sydney’s future economic growth.

The Liverpool Innovation Precinct thanks Jeremy Gill for addressing the June Steering Committee.

Read the Sydney Innovation Atlas: https://sydney.org.au/policy-library/the-sydney-innovation-atlas-mapping-australias-innovation-city/

UOW Liverpool Open Day

The University of Wollongong will open its Liverpool campus to the community on Saturday 25 July, giving prospective students and families the opportunity to explore its city-centre campus and learn more about study opportunities close to home.

The event will feature academic showcases, hands-on experiences and community activities. The Liverpool Innovation Precinct will also be on hand to showcase the region's emerging innovation ecosystem and opportunities available across South West Sydney.

2026 is proving to be an exciting year for UOW Liverpool, with the university now firmly established across multiple floors of Liverpool Civic Place. Construction is also underway on the adjoining Stage 2 development, a 17-storey tower that will deliver an additional 11 storeys of UOW teaching, research and collaboration space alongside life sciences facilities and co-living student accommodation. The project is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will further strengthen Liverpool's position as a leading education and innovation hub.

Looking ahead, UOW Liverpool will also host a free Build Your Personal Brand workshop on Saturday 15 August, helping students, graduates and professionals build confidence in communicating their skills and experience. Participants will gain practical advice on LinkedIn, networking, communication and career development, with the workshop designed to help attendees stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.

Register: UOW Open Day
Personal Brand Workshop: Register here

Health Innovation Showcase Returns

Liverpool will once again host one of South West Sydney’s leading health research and innovation events when the Health Beyond Research and Innovation Showcase 2026, taking place on 15 and 16 September 2026 at Liverpool Catholic Club, brings together clinicians, researchers, universities, health services, industry partners and emerging innovators from across the region.

Hosted by South Western Sydney Local Health District and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, the two-day Showcase highlights the research, partnerships and new ideas helping shape the future of healthcare. This year’s theme, Prevention, will explore how research and innovation can reduce disease burden, improve health outcomes and create a more sustainable healthcare system.

The event provides a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals, researchers and industry to share knowledge, showcase projects and build new collaborations. It also highlights the strength of Liverpool’s growing health and innovation ecosystem, which includes major hospitals, universities, research institutes and industry partners working together to improve community outcomes.

For the Liverpool Innovation Precinct, the Showcase reflects one of the region’s greatest strengths: the concentration of world-class health, education and research organisations driving innovation close to home. It also reinforces Liverpool’s growing reputation as a centre for health research, medical innovation and workforce development in Western Sydney.

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-health-beyond-showcase/tickets

$7.4 Million Boost for Medical Innovation

The NSW Government has announced $7.4 million through Round 13 of the Medical Devices Fund and opened Round 14 for new applications.

The funding will support four medical devices progressing towards commercialisation, helping improve health outcomes and drive economic growth.

South West Sydney was among the success stories. Western Sydney University spin-out Amazing Gut secured more than $1.3 million for its Ins&Outs device, a portable biofeedback solution helping people with functional bowel disorders undertake physiotherapy privately and comfortably at home.

The company has also been recognised nationally, recently taking top honours at the 2026 Challenger Pitch for Health.

Round 14 is now open, offering grants of between $500,000 and $5 million for NSW-based medical technology projects.

NSW Medical Devices Fund: Read more

Amazing Gut: Western Sydney University announcement

L-R: Minister Harris, Dr Darren Saunders (Chair), Dr Jerry Zhou (Amazing Gut), Secretary Susan Pearce, Tara Croft (Baymatob), Kim Sutherland (OHMR Executive Director), John Shanks (Kraken Coding) and Shan Shan Wang (Roam Technologies)

X-Raying Health

South West Sydney is home to world-class health, research and education institutions. Impact X, a free 10-week program delivered by UNSW Founders, is helping more people turn health challenges into innovative solutions.

Applications close on 10 August 2026.

The program is already helping founders turn ideas into impact. Last year, Aether Diagnostics took out both second place and the People's Choice Award at Pitch Night South West.

Designed for women founders and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) founders, the program supports participants to validate ideas, explore pilot opportunities and prepare for future funding and accelerator programs.

Open to clinicians, researchers, healthcare workers, community leaders and people with lived experience, Impact X provides mentoring, coaching and practical support from experts across the health innovation ecosystem.

Learn more: UNSW Founders Impact X

Pitch Night in Bankstown

Founders, students and innovators from across South West Sydney will take the stage at Pitch Night South West on 30 July, UNSW Founders' flagship entrepreneurship showcase.

Hosted at the Bryan Brown Theatre in Bankstown for the first time, the event will bring together founders, investors, industry leaders and community members to celebrate innovation emerging from the region.

The event will also showcase participants from the Innovator Pro Pitch Fest, a partnership between Liverpool City Council and UNSW. The program has connected students, industry and local leaders to develop new ideas for Liverpool's future, with finalists presenting their solutions on the night.

Last year's event attracted more than 220 attendees and awarded $10,000 in prizes to emerging founders.

Date: Thursday 30 July 2026 Time: 5.00pm–8.00pm Location: Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown

Register: Pitch Night South West

Jetstar and Qantas Commit to Western Sydney

Western Sydney International Airport has taken another major step forward, with Jetstar announcing it will launch the airport's first commercial passenger services from October 2026, connecting Western Sydney directly to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Qantas will follow with services from March 2027, further strengthening the airport's role as a new gateway for Australia.

The airport's growing passenger network comes as planning continues for significant freight and logistics activity, creating new opportunities for trade, distribution and supply chain industries across Western Sydney.

Momentum is also building across the wider Western Sydney Aerotropolis, with private sector investment proposals increasing from $9.8 billion to $21.6 billion in just over a year. Recent milestones include approval of Aldi's $1 billion automated distribution centre, the opening of the M12 Motorway and major industrial developments involving SEED, Mirvac and Australian Retirement Trust.

At 11,200 hectares, the Aerotropolis remains the largest undeveloped employment lands precinct in Greater Sydney and one of Australia's most significant economic development opportunities.

Dr Kharaishvili Visit

Dr Nino Kharaishvili, Global Solutions Director for Health System Governance at Jacobs, joined Liverpool Innovation Precinct members at the Ingham Institute to discuss international approaches to innovation district development, health precinct governance and research collaboration.

Dr Nino Kharaishvili, Global Solutions Director for Health System Governance at Jacobs and a key leader in the transformation of the Liverpool (UK) Innovation Precinct, recently met with Liverpool Innovation Precinct members during a working lunch hosted by the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

Discussions explored the similarities between Liverpool in Sydney and Liverpool in the United Kingdom, including how major health, education and research assets can support economic growth and innovation. Members shared insights on precinct governance, university and industry partnerships, and creating stronger pathways from research to commercialisation.

The visit provided valuable international perspectives as Liverpool continues to strengthen its innovation ecosystem through collaboration between hospitals, universities, research organisations, industry and government. Opportunities for future knowledge sharing and collaboration between the two regions were also discussed.

Liverpool Hospital Redevelopment Reaches Major Milestone

Health Minister Ryan Park (from left), South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Chief Executive Sonia Marshall, Premier Chris Minns, Liverpool Hospital General Manager Scott McGrath and SWSLHD Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (LHAP) Project Director Karen McCulloch at the LHAP construction site at Liverpool Hospital.

The NSW Budget included an additional $100 million investment for the Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (LHAP), bringing total government funding for the project to $880 million.

The LHAP is a NSW Government-led health infrastructure initiative centred on the redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital. It is focused on expanding healthcare, research, education and clinical services across the hospital campus.

The project is separate to the Liverpool Innovation Precinct, which is a partnership of organisations working to grow innovation, research, education and industry across Liverpool.

The additional funding will support delivery of a new Integrated Services Building featuring expanded cancer services, inpatient units and women's and children's ambulatory care, alongside a major expansion of the Emergency Department. Liverpool Hospital has also recently completed another stage of its Emergency Department redevelopment, with new treatment and waiting areas now operational.

Together, the NSW Budget investment and the latest construction milestones mark significant progress on one of the state's largest health infrastructure projects and will help support the rapidly growing population of South West Sydney.

Premier Chris Minns tours the construction site with NSW Government and NSW Health leaders.

New Bus Links Put Liverpool On the Airport Map

Liverpool is now better connected to Western Sydney International Airport, with two new airport-linked bus routes. Route 825 connects Liverpool to the airport via Bonnyrigg, while Route 860 travels via Leppington, giving residents, workers and students more practical public transport options.

The services run every 30 minutes between 5am and 10pm, seven days a week, with journeys taking around 50 minutes via Bonnyrigg and 55 minutes via Leppington.

The announcement aligns with themes discussed at the recent Western Sydney Bus Forum, hosted at Western Sydney University’s Liverpool Campus. The forum brought together industry, government and community leaders to explore how improved bus services can better connect people with jobs, education and essential services across the region.

For Liverpool, the new routes strengthen links to the airport precinct, future Bradfield City Centre and Western Sydney’s emerging economic corridor, improving access to employment, study, healthcare and major transport connections. As a Liverpool Innovation Precinct partner, Western Sydney University’s role in hosting the forum also highlights Liverpool’s growing importance as a centre for transport, education and economic growth.

https://transportnsw.info/news/2026/new-bus-services-for-western-sydney

Liverpool Celebrates Local UOW Graduates

The University of Wollongong has celebrated its first graduation ceremonies at UOW Liverpool’s Civic Place campus, bringing the milestone closer to home for students, families and the communities that supported them throughout their studies.

The first ceremony recognised graduates from Nursing, Health Sciences and Allied Health, highlighting the important role local education providers play in building South West Sydney’s future workforce. More than half of UOW Liverpool students study health-related disciplines, including more than 600 enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing.

More than 200 students graduated across the ceremonies, with around 180 coming from the Liverpool and Macarthur regions. The strong local representation reflects the growing demand for higher education opportunities close to home and the impact local campuses can have on improving access to university study.

The graduations also reinforce Liverpool’s emergence as a university city. UOW’s expanding presence at Civic Place, together with its advanced teaching and research facilities in health, biosciences and cyber security, is helping connect students with industry, research and career opportunities in the region.

For the Liverpool Innovation Precinct, the ceremonies are more than a celebration of academic achievement. They demonstrate how local universities are helping students study, graduate and build careers in South West Sydney, while strengthening the skilled workforce needed across the region’s health, education, research and innovation sectors.