The drivers of Christchurch's Epic technology hub say they can see potential for Dunedin to create a similar entity in the city's warehouse precinct's historic buildings.
Technology entrepreneurs Wil McLellan and Colin Andersen visited last week for discussions with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies, building owners and Dunedin City Council staff.
They explained how Christchurch's Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (Epic) got established and discussed whether they thought such an idea could succeed in Dunedin.
They are developing the Epic project, based on a "Silicon Valley model", at the edge of Christchurch's red zone with the support of the BNZ, Christchurch City Council and Government funding.
It will be home initially to 17 ICT companies. A more ambitious technology park is also planned.
Dunedin city council's economic development unit manager Peter Harris said the pair were shown Dunedin-based high-tech company ADInstruments' heritage warehouse development, and asked if they thought a technology hub like Epic could be created within the city's heritage architecture.
They replied it was possible and said they would share experience and contacts with Dunedin if a hub went ahead here.
The idea was not to be a part of Epic, or compete with it, but for Dunedin to drive its own hub.
Mr Harris said any formation of a solid idea was a long way in the future and depended on there being the drive to do it.
The circumstances driving Epic were unusual in that there was a critical mass because businesses physically needed somewhere to go and the Christchurch City Council and the Government were financially supportive.
There was an opportunity to position Christchurch and Dunedin as destinations for investment in high-tech innovation, and an ICT hub would fit in with plans to revitalise the inner-city area, Mr Harris said.
The idea would need further exploration.
