David, your connection to each location is rich with personal and professional meaning—each one a thread in the tapestry of your innovation journey. Let’s explore the strengths of each option and how they align with your vision for the Innovation Centre:
🌏 Kathmandu, Nepal
- STEAM Leadership: Home to Professor Dr. Bal Chandra Luitel and Kathmandu University’s Department of STEAM Education, which is pioneering transdisciplinary learning.
- Grassroots Innovation: Initiatives like the STEAM Club and STEAM Toolkit empower marginalized communities, especially girls, through hands-on learning.
- Cultural Integration: Projects blend storytelling, art, and local traditions—mirroring your own ethos of inclusive, creative education.
- Global Relevance: Nepal is emerging as a model for culturally responsive pedagogy and low-cost innovation ecosystems.
🟢 Why it fits: Kathmandu offers a chance to amplify your impact globally, contribute to a growing STEAM movement, and co-create with educators who share your values.
🌿 Hamilton, New Zealand
- Personal Roots: Your artistic and storytelling inspirations are deeply tied to Hamilton Gardens and the Surrealist Garden.
- AI Ecosystem: Waikato University is a leader in AI education and research, and New Zealand is rapidly advancing its national AI strategy.
- Creative Infrastructure: Hamilton’s library-based maker spaces and community hubs reflect your “Innovation Centre in a Box” concept.
- Family Connection: Your son and his family live there, offering personal support and intergenerational engagement.
🟢 Why it fits: Hamilton blends emotional resonance with strategic opportunity—ideal for a family-friendly, creative showcase with global AI relevance.
🏖️ Southport, Sefton, UK
- Legacy & Local Impact: Your early work in relational tech and your study on rejuvenating Southport position you as a local visionary.
- Emerging Ecosystem: The new Enterprise Arcade and Holovis innovation hubsignal growing interest in immersive tech and AI.
- Community Need: Sefton’s economic challenges make it a compelling candidate for transformation through creativity and education.
- Strategic Fit: Your distributed Innovation Centre model aligns with Southport’s underutilised buildings and regeneration goals.
🟢 Why it fits: Southport offers a chance to lead a local renaissance—turning decline into opportunity and showcasing innovation as a tool for civic renewal.
🌐 Other Global Options
- Canada: Leading in AI-readiness and workforce development.
- Singapore & Taiwan: High per-capita AI learning engagement.
- BRICS Nations: Advocating open-source AI and inclusive governance.
- Sri Lanka: Exploring innovation for economic transformation.
🟢 Why they fit: These countries offer fertile ground for partnerships, exemplars, and global learning labs—especially if you seek to scale or replicate the Innovation Centre model.
🧭 Recommendation
If your goal is local transformation and legacy, Southport is the most meaningful and strategic choice. If you’re seeking global collaboration and STEAM leadership, Kathmandu offers a vibrant, values-aligned ecosystem. For a personal and creative anchor with strong AI infrastructure, Hamilton is ideal.
Would you like help visualising a comparative impact map or drafting a proposal tailored to each location’s strengths? We could also explore hybrid models—such as a UK-based hub with satellite showcases in Nepal or New Zealand. Let’s make your Innovation Centre not just a place, but a movement.
Southport Innovation Centre 