2024 Awards Videos
Sprout Agritech 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
Emily McIsaac
Daisy Lab / Massey University
Making dairy proteins – without the cows
Finalist
Dr Arup Nag
ANDFOODS / Riddet Institute / Massey University
Innovating tomorrow’s food today
Finalist
Dr Jack Chen
Spherelose/ AUT
Sustainable surfactants for a brighter future
Finalist
Cynthia Hunefeld
Evithé Biotechnology/ Victoria University of Wellington
Putting nature back into medicine with botanical drugs
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
Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase
University of Canterbury
Engineering better medicine and a more resilient New Zealand
Finalist
Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh
Riddet Institute / Massey University
Research entrepreneurship icon and food science leader
KCA Commercialisation Rising Star Award
This award recognises an entrepreneurial early-mid career commercialisation professional working within a New Zealand research organisation who is actively supporting research innovations to generate significant real-world impact.
Winner
Ben Pearson
UniServices
Building connections and collaboration for exceptional outcomes
Finalist
Abi Thampi
AUT Ventures
A highly effective and relatable commercialisation champion
Finalist
Ella Moffat
Massey Ventures
An emerging leader in the commercialisation ecosystem
PwC Breakthrough Project Award
This award recognises a project that demonstrates best practice commercialisation of publicly-funded research.
Winner
ZealaFoam®
AgResearch/ Plant & Food Research/ Scion
Breaking the mould with sustainable plant-based polystyrene replacement
Finalist
ANDFOODS
Riddet Institute/ Massey University/ Massey Ventures
Breakthrough dairy-alternatives taking the world by storm
Finalist
Kitea Health
Auckland Bioengineering Institute/ University of Auckland
World-first implantable brain sensor set to transform patients’ lives
Finalist
Cetogenix
Pacific Channel/ Scion
Building renewable futures — with no waste left behind
AJ Park Commercial 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
Toku Eyes and University of Auckland
Medtech AI: Using the eye as a window to our health
Finalist
NovoLabs and Massey Ventures
Advanced UV technology bringing cleaner water to the world.
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
Emma Arvidson
– Teiny / University Of Canterbury
High protein oat milk powder – small changes, big impact
Finalist
Jean-luc Ellis
– WasteXpert / University of Auckland
Reducing construction and demolition waste and excess expenditure
Finalist
Jenny Zhu
LineBuddy / University Of Canterbury
Umpiring ball monitoring tech for accurate line calls
Other Videos
KiwiNet 2024 Promotional Video
Taking Scientific Discoveries to Market
How the 2024 finalists feel about creating impact from Kiwi science.
Judges Introduction
Meet the Judges of the 2024 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards