AstraZeneca - Unveiling a state-of-the-art research and development centre with the royal seal of approval

In November 2021, WRG helped AstraZeneca unveil The Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge, UK – a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility. The event was attended by VIPs including His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. We worked with our AstraZeneca clients to create a bespoke experience for the VIP guests, along with a number of learning zones within the building. This was accompanied by an internal broadcast for AstraZeneca employees.

The challenge
The Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge, UK, is at the heart of AstraZeneca’s plans to drive the scientific innovation of the future and bring new medicines to patients. Designed to the world’s highest environmental standards and accommodating over 2,200 research scientists, the new £1bn facility will include the most advanced robotics, high-throughput screening and AI-driven technology.

This unveiling needed to reflect the significance of this moment, showcasing the complex, cutting edge science to VIP guests and media and sharing the landmark event with employees across the global AstraZeneca organisation.

The intelligence
Our cross functional team of event and content producers, scientific writers, designers and logistics managers worked together with AstraZeneca to curate an experience that brought the ambition for The DISC to life across the site. At the heart of this, we distilled complex scientific content into a narrative accessible to all, regardless of scientific understanding.

The solution
The unveiling itself was a huge logistical operation, attended by the leaders of AstraZeneca, global ambassadors, a government minister and His Royal Highness.

Following a formal address by HRH the Prince of Wales, Guests were hosted on a tour of the facility, including an interactive exhibition that told the story of the DISC work seamlessly designed into the space.

Guests could see the state of the art labs, learn more about our understanding of disease, find out about AstraZeneca’s work during COVID 19 and the future of therapeutics.

Ensuring AstraZeneca employees were able to engage in the moment, we produced an exclusive broadcast for them, featuring panel discussions, interviews and pre recorded film, along with a live feed of the official unveiling in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, our Safety and Risk team worked alongside AstraZeneca security to implement strict COVID and security protocols to ensure all our guests could enjoy the day safely. For the production team alone over 1500 COVID tests were taken, more than 500 individual risk assessments and method statements were completed and 150 hours of site inductions took place. These same COVID safe protocols were also followed by the AstraZeneca teams on site, ensuring everyone kept safe.