2023 Awards Videos
Sprout Breakthrough Innovator Award
This award recognises an upcoming entrepreneurial researcher who is making outstanding contributions to business innovation or is creating innovative businesses in New Zealand through technology licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.
Winner
Dr Sean Feast
Precision Chroma / University of Canterbury
Pioneering 3D printed chromatography to transform the separations industry
Finalist
Dr Jérôme Leveneur
Bspkl / GNS Science
New Zealand’s first deep technology hydrogen start-up.
Finalist
Dr Olivia Ogilvie
Opo Bio / Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Cultivating meat for the next generation
BNZ 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 licencing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support business innovation.
Winner
Professor Rod Badcock
Robinson Research Institute - Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Building an emerging clean tech economy taking New Zealand’s expertise to the world
Finalist
Dr Laura Domigan
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Leading New Zealand to the frontier of future foods
Finalist
Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh
Riddet Institute / Massey University
Esteemed food scientist and icon of research entrepreneurship
Simpson Grierson Commercialisation Professional Award
This award recognises a commercialisation professional working within a New Zealand research organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the commercialisation of publicly-funded research.
Winner
Kevin Sheehy
MacDiarmid Institute
Effective support for deep tech entrepreneurs, start-ups, and the ecosystem
Finalist
Brendan Vercoe
2before Performance Nutrition – Plant & Food Research
Commercialising natural products backed by science.
Finalist
Dr Sean Mackay
Massey University
Breaking the commercialisation professional mould.
PwC Breakthrough Project Award
This award recognises a project that demonstrates best practice commercialisation of publicly-funded research.
Winner
Bspkl
GNS Science
Activating sustainability through innovative manufacturing.
Finalist
Avasa
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Transforming reconstructive microsurgery.
Finalist
Strawberry Birthmarks
Massey University / Gillies McIndoe Research Institute
A game-changing treatment for infants
MAS Commercialisation Impact Award
This award celebrates excellence in research commercialisation delivering outstanding innovation performance and the potential for generating significant economic impact for New Zealand.
Winner
XFrame and Wellington UniVentures
Reusable framing for the next generation of sustainable construction.
Finalist
TDRI and Lincoln Agritech
Reducing roading costs with rapid subsurface moisture detection.
Finalist
Lumi™ Drug Scan and ESR
Making forensic science accessible to frontline responders.
Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award
The award recognises highly motivated New Zealand university students who have made significant progress developing an idea that can change the world.
These students are making outstanding contributions to commercialisation and innovation or has created an innovative business in New Zealand through technology licensing, start-up creation or by providing expertise to support innovation.
Winner
Monique Lau
Endosoothe / University of Canterbury
Reimagining menstrual care through innovation and community
Finalist
Lucy Grunfeld
Bra+ve / Massey University
Supporting breast cancer surgery recovery
Finalist
Sophie Burling
Project Geminae / Massey University
An entrepreneurial leader transforming drug discovery for Neuromuscular Disorders
Other Videos
Judges Introduction
Introduction to the Judges of the 2023 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards