Melbourne: communities and coworking key to generate real smart cities? (2016)

This 2016 presentation by Taylor Tran of Innovation Melbourne examined the relationship between coworking spaces, grassroots communities, entrepreneurial ecosystems and smart-city policy. Tran introduced his background as a former corporate professional, board member and MBA graduate who had become an author, entrepreneur and teacher. He then mapped a Melbourne ecosystem that included coworking spaces, creative studios, innovation centres, corporate workspaces and startup communities. Testimonials reproduced in the slides described this ecosystem as diverse and increasingly mature, while emphasising the role of relationships, accessibility and collaboration. The presentation also raised the question of government’s role and situated communities and coworking within a broader ecosystem framework, although the extracted slides did not preserve the detail of those diagrams. Tran concluded with a five-part hypothesis for coworking-industry leadership: fostering an open culture, mentoring new leaders, encouraging successful entrepreneurs to contribute to the ecosystem, collecting data and developing a shared brand through identity and signature events. The deck framed coworking as community infrastructure that could support a connected entrepreneurial environment rather than as workspace alone.

Key findings

• The presentation mapped more than 50 organisations and spaces within Melbourne’s coworking, creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Tran proposed that coworking leaders should foster an open culture, mentor new leaders and encourage successful entrepreneurs to give back.
• The five-part leadership hypothesis also called for ecosystem data and a shared brand supported by identity and signature events.

Presented by Taylor Tran, Innovation Melbourne, at Coworking Europe 2016