RDCS marks two years of innovation and community impact
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Published
22 December 2025
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The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS) celebrated a major milestone on Thursday, 11 December 2025, hosting its RDCS @ 2 Winter Social Event to mark two years of shaping innovation, sustainability, and community-driven growth in East London. Held in the Living Library at the centre, the gathering brought together partners, members, and UEL colleagues for an afternoon of reflection, connection, and forward planning.
Since opening its doors in 2023, RDCS has become a vibrant home for entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and community pioneers working to create a more inclusive and sustainable future. This year’s anniversary celebration offered an opportunity to recognise that journey, from early ambitions to real-world impact, while setting the stage for the centre’s future direction and priorities in 2026.
The event opened with welcome remarks from the RDCS leadership team, who highlighted the centre’s growth and the collaborative spirit that underpins its work.
This was followed by “RDCS: Two Years On”, a reflective session in which Robert de Jong, Director of the RDCS, shared key milestones, programme achievements, and the story of how the centre has expanded its ecosystem and influence across the Royal Docks.
Robert de Jong said:
With over 50 community events and nearly 3,000 local residents welcomed this year, RDCS is now firmly rooted as a vital hub in East London. From launching our Dialogue Lab for deaf and hard-of-hearing innovators to strengthening partnerships across sectors, our achievements show what’s possible when we all lean in together. We’re incredibly proud of the journey so far and even more excited for what the future holds.”
Daljinder Hopal, Associate Director of Employer Partnerships, added: “Today is about both celebrating these accomplishments and recommitting ourselves to the work ahead. As we look toward Year 3 and beyond, we will continue to build pathways for local talent, deepen our research-led enterprise, and drive forward the University’s ambition to reach net zero by 2030.”
Community development also took centre stage, with Community Officer Jameelah Webster presenting a short overview of the centre’s community achievements in 2025 and the opportunities emerging in 2026. Her reflections underscored RDCS’s commitment to a community-first approach with a strong focus on supporting local people, nurturing partnerships, and strengthening access to innovation pathways.
A standout moment of the afternoon was the Member Pitch Session. Organisations including Rix, the Sustainable Research Institute, TerraDock members Kyeurto and MassChallenge UK, Dialogue Café, and Grow London Local showcased their work, partnerships, and ambitions for the coming year. These short pitches highlighted the dynamic mix of research, enterprise, and social impact that continues to define the RDCS network.
Monowar Hossen, Business Support Manager at Grow London Local, said about the partnership with RDCS: “Working with the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability has been incredibly valuable for our community and for the businesses we support. The collaboration with RDCS, especially through the TerraDock incubator, the Help to Grow programme, and the many networking events hosted at the centre, has opened up high-quality opportunities for local SMEs.
We’ve been able to refer many businesses into these programmes, and the connections, skills, and support they gain have genuinely helped strengthen and grow the wider London business community.”
Matt Davies, Head of Economic Development at the Royal Docks Team, shared exciting updates on the area’s continued growth and the pivotal role of the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability in driving innovation. Future plans include 36,000 new homes and 55,000 jobs, alongside the arrival of data centres, food markets, and emerging industries, creating a wealth of opportunities for innovation and sustainable development.
Looking to the future, the session “Royal Docks: Looking Forward” explored emerging prospects across the area and RDCS’s growing role in enabling sustainable innovation, local opportunity, and health-focused initiatives aligned with UEL’s 2026 Year of Health.
The celebration concluded with a relaxed Winter Social, where attendees enjoyed light refreshments, connected with fellow innovators, and continued conversations sparked throughout the afternoon.
As RDCS steps into its third year, the centre remains committed to expanding its TerraDock enterprise ecosystem, elevating sustainability and wellbeing initiatives, and deepening its community-led impact. The anniversary event not only honoured what has been achieved but also built momentum toward the ambitious programmes and partnerships that lie ahead.
