Report to the Future Melbourne (Economic Development) Committee

Agenda item 6.3

Proposed travel by Councillor Louey and Councillor Watts: BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne, Milan, Italy - May 2015

10 March 2015

Presenter: Jane Sharwood, Manager Business and International

Purpose and background

1. The purpose of this report is to seek Committee approval for Councillor Kevin Louey and Councillor Jackie Watts to travel to Milan, Italy to attend BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne for the period Sunday 3 May to Thursday 7 May 2015.

2. In September 2014, Council approved $70,000 towards supporting BlackBOX exhibition curated by Mr Ian Wong, Senior Lecturer at Monash University, Art, Design and Architecture Faculty. The exhibition (from 2–15 May 2015) at Sala Colonne studio at the Fabbrica del Vapore will be part of Expo in Citta, coordinated by the City of Milan and the Milan Chamber of Commerce. The exhibition showcases internationally renowned Melbourne designs that are used widely around the world.

Key issues

3. It is proposed Councillor Louey and Councillor Watts travel to Milan for three days to undertake a program of activities related to the exhibition (including business matching and networking events), sister city meetings (with elected representatives and senior officials from the City of Milan) and meetings with representatives aligned to the Melbourne, Doing Business Globally and Knowledge City – strengthening Melbourne’s Knowledge sector through collaboration strategies. Refer to Attachment 2 (BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne, Australia) and Attachment 3 (draft visit program).

4. Companies and designers represented in the exhibition have been invited to attend the opening of the exhibition and participate in public events during the exhibition. The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Melbourne) will be engaged to develop and deliver a business agenda including networking events in Milan to amplify the reach of the exhibition and leverage the business opportunities for participating companies. If businesses or designers choose to participate in this program, they will be responsible for their individual travel and accommodation costs.

5. Meetings will be sought with a range of educational institutions and other potential partners to pursue Melbourne’s knowledge agenda.

6. It is proposed the Councillors will be accompanied by the Manager, Business and International. The Manager will assist with high level liaison with City of Milan, business participants and other partner organisations in Milan.

7. The cost of travel for Councillor Louey and Councillor Watts is estimated at $9969.36 per individual. This includes: airfares (business class Melbourne to Milan $6932.36), accommodation (four nights at $493 per night, total $1972) and travel allowance for incidental expenses ($355 per day, total $1065).

Recommendation from management

8. That the Future Melbourne Committee:

8.1. Approves participation in travel to Milan, Italy to attend the opening of BlackBOX as part of Expo in Citta and undertaking a program of meetings and site visits with the City of Milan and other partner organisations.

8.2. Nominates Councillor Louey and Councillor Watts to undertake travel to Milan Italy for the period Sunday 3 to Thursday 7 May 2015.

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Attachments: 1. Supporting Attachment 2. BlackBOX: Design and innovation in Melbourne, Australia 3. Proposed program – Milan, Italy 3 – 7 May 2015 2

8.3. Approves an amount of $9969.36 for each Councillor to cover costs associated with airfare, accommodation and incidentals.

8.4. Notes that Councillor Louey and Councillor Watts will prepare a report to the Future Melbourne Committee or Council within 60 days of return from travel.

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Supporting Attachment

Finance

1. The estimated cost of $9969.36 per Councillor for the proposed travel will be met from the existing budget allocation.

Conflict of interest

2. No member of Council staff, or other person engaged under a contract, involved in advising on or preparing this report has declared a direct or indirect interest in relation to the matter of the report.

Relation to Council policy

3. The Director City Business has confirmed that the travel proposal accords with the requirements of the travel guidelines outlined in the Councillor Expenses and Resources Guidelines.

4. Council Plan 2013–17, Goal 3, A Prosperous City seeks to ensure Melbourne’s municipal economy is sustainable, resilient and globally connected. Council, in November 2014 endorsed ‘Melbourne – doing business globally’ The BlackBOX exhibition showcases Melbourne design and innovation excellence and role as Australia’s design hub.

5. A Knowledge City Strategy – strengthening Melbourne’s knowledge sector through collaboration 2014 -18 identifies the City’s role to position Melbourne as an international knowledge capital and the opportunity to partner with existing networks including international city to city links.

Environmental sustainability

6. BlackBOX: highlights 64 products which include KeepCup, Council House 2 and Biofilta that demonstrate Melbourne’s capabilities in design influenced by Melbourne’s innovation focus on practical solutions to address environmental sustainability challenges.

7. The carbon emission resulting from air travel will be offset with the purchase of credits.

Attachment 1Agenda item 6.3

Future Melbourne Committee 10 March 2015

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DM#8992505

BlackBOX: Design and Innovation in Melbourne Australia

2 – 15 May 2015

Summary

BlackBOX – Design and Innovation in Melbourne is an exhibition showcasing Melbourne’s industrial and product design capabilities with particular reference to sustainability and innovation.

The exhibition will display internationally renowned Melbourne designs that are used widely around the world today such as the black box flight recorder and baby capsule, as well as the best of contemporary design such as Keep Cup and Black Magic Camera. The exhibition will position Melbourne as a business minded, solution focused and sophisticated design and knowledge city.

The exhibition will be curated by Mr Ian Wong, lecturer at Monash University, Art Design and Architecture Faculty (MADA). Mr Wong is also the President of Melbourne Movement and is a national council member of the Design Institute of Australia.

The exhibition in Milan will be located at the Sala Colonne studio in the Fabbrica del Vapore (the Steam Factory) as part of Expo in Citta (Expo in the City). Organised by the City of Milan, Expo in Citta is a city activation program running parallel with the Milan 2015 World Expo located on the outskirts of Milan. Due to our sister city relationship Melbourne was invited by the Mayor of Milan to participate at Expo in Citta.

City of Melbourne funding provided will assist the curator to source objects and ideas, develop imagery, promote and communicate the exhibition and cover associated travel, shipping and insurance costs to Milan.

The City of Milan has offered to provide support in selecting an appropriate venue, developing an effective communication campaign and assistance with regards to bureaucratic logistical procedures.

Look and feel

The design stories and projects highlighted in the exhibition will be featured within an array of 64 3D printed black boxes. These 3D printed black boxes will be mounted on slender sticks and will be laid out in a field of 8x8 to represent the Hoddle Grid, so synonymous with Melbourne’s early town planning.

The area for this project is approximately 250m2.

Attachment 2 Agenda item 6.3

Future Melbourne Committee 10 March 2015

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DM#8992505

How does it work?

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to place their smart phones (or smart phone devices provided) over the black boxes to receive instantaneous information. Each box will have a unique high frequency sound transmitter that the smartphone microphone will respond to via a custom app. This technology is being provided by Art Processors who are a Melbourne company most famous for their work at MONA in Tasmania. They are also developing the website and app for the exhibition.

The boxes will also use sensors to detect when someone is standing over them and change from omitting a blue light to a white light.

The information provided will be bi-lingual (English and Italian). Depending on budget it may also be provided in Chinese.

A printed catalogue will be available at the exhibition. There will also be a website and social media presence. The website is under construction.

Date of exhibition

2-15 May with the official opening on Tuesday 5 May 2015. A program of events at the exhibition is being planned.

Testing of boxes at Monash University

Black Box on stand with transmitter inside

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DM 8992540

Proposed program

Date Proposed activities

Sunday 3 May Arrival Milan and city orientation

Monday 4 May Courtesy call with Mayor of Milan or nominee to discuss:

City to city connection

Melbourne, doing business globally – international business strategy

Knowledge City Strategy – strengthening Melbourne’s knowledge sector through collaboration

Economic development and knowledge priorities, industry sector development

Business meeting – Economic Development Bureau, City of Milan

Brief on ‘Melbourne, doing business globally – international business strategy

Opportunities for future business focus exchanges

Business meeting – Education office, City of Milan regarding ‘Study in Milan’ collaboration with Milan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Meeting – Australian Business in Europe (Milan) (member based organisation) to learn about Australian business activities in Milan.

Meeting - Australian Consul General, Milan and Austrade to provide a briefing on:

Melbourne, doing business globally – international business strategy

Knowledge City Strategy – strengthening Melbourne’s knowledge sector through collaboration

Economic development and knowledge priorities, industry sector development

Receive briefing on business climate in Milan and Italy

Background BlackBOX exhibition

Attachment 3Agenda item 6.3

Future Melbourne Committee10 March 2015

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DM 8992540

Business networking – with Melbourne businesses/designers featured in BlackBOX exhibition.

Tuesday 5 May Site visit and meeting with Board members, Triennale di Milano (Design Museum of Milan) to discuss Melbourne Milan design capabilities, future exchange opportunities. Provide a briefing on BlackBOX exhibition

BlackBOX – site visit to Fabbrica del Vapore to inspect exhibition, meet with curator

Chair, Melbourne - doing business globally seminar with focus on Melbourne’s design capabilities

Facilitate business matching program for participating companies including site visits (where appropriate)

Meeting with Australian Ambassador to Italy and provide briefing on:

Melbourne, doing business globally – international business strategy

Knowledge city strategy – Strengthenin Melbourne’s knowledge sector through collaboration

Economic development priorities, city precinct programs, industry sector development

BlackBOX exhibition

Co - host (on behalf of the City of Melbourne) opening of BlackBOX exhibition

Wednesday 6 May Councillor Louey - Milan World Expo 2015 – site visit strategic business partner national pavilions. To be confirmed and likely to include Italy, China, Japan, India.

Councillor Watts – meeting with ‘Study in Milan’ office to explore partnership opportunities.

Site visit to Politecnico de Milano- largest technical university in Italy and meeting with international office

Thursday 7 May Depart Milan and return to Melbourne

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