Published on the 24/06/2013 | Written by Newsdesk
The winners of the inaugural KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards were recently announced at a two-day forum and awards dinner…
The KiwiNet is the Kiwi Innovation Network, a consortium of universities and Crown Research Institutes who are dedicated to taking a collaborative approach to research commercialisation. The consortium also seeks to increase the scale and impact of scientific and technology based innovation with the aim of providing greater economic benefits to New Zealand.
Dr Bram Smith, General Manager of KiwiNet said, “The KiwiNet awards celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit. Research Commercialisation is about turning exciting scientific discoveries made at New Zealand’s universities and Crown Entities into innovative products and services that will grow our economy. Our finalists highlight the success that can come from collaboration between research organisations, partnerships between researchers and business, and entrepreneurial researchers.”
The awards brought together and celebrate the people and technologies changing the research commercialisation landscape in New Zealand. The judging panel comprised Dr Andrew Kelly, Executive Director at BioPacificVentures, award winning entrepreneur Bill Day, professional director and Angel Association Chairman Dr Ray Thomson, and director and executive advisor Helen Robinson, the founding CEO of TZ1. The People’s Choice Supreme Award was decided by popular vote by the audience.
The Winners 2013
Commercialisation Collaboration Award
This award recognises the outstanding new collaborations formed between multiple research organisations working together to build national scale around a technology platform or address a business need.
Winner: Callaghan Innovation – Ovine Automation Consortium
Click here [Warning: some viewers may find this material offensive] to watch the short video about the Ovine Automation Consortium.
Researcher Entrepreneur Award
This award recognises an entrepreneurial researcher who has made outstanding contributions to business innovation or has created innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licensing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.
Winner: Professors John Boys and Grant Covic – Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Auckland University, nominated by UniServices.
Click here to watch the short video about Professors John Boys and Grant Covic’s research.
Research & Business Partnership Award
This award recognises the deeply embedded working relationship between a research organisation and business that delivers significant commercial value for New Zealand.
Winner: Callaghan Innovation — Advanced Sonar Technology: Partnering with Industry for Export Impact.
Click here to watch the short video about Advanced Sonar Technology.
Commercial Deal Award
The commercial deal award celebrates excellence in research commercialisation delivering outstanding innovation performance and the potential for generating significant economic impact for New Zealand.
Winner: Otago Innovation – TOXINZ Success.
Click here to watch a short video about TOXINZ Success.
People’s Choice Supreme Award
This award recognises overall excellence in research commercialisation delivering significant commercial value for New Zealand. The recipient will be decided on the Awards Day and voted on by the attendees.
Winner: Auckland University of Technology – Growing the New Zealand surf clam industry with the Cloudy Bay Group.
Click here to watch a short video about AUT’s work with the Cloudy Bay Group.
For more on the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards winners see www.kiwinet.org.nz
