KiwiNet News 14 July 2017
2017 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards winners driving prosperity from science and innovation
Hamilton, NZ, 14 July 2017
The 2017 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards winners are:
Norman Barry Foundation Emerging Innovator Award
- Dr Geoff Rodgers, University of Canterbury: Seismic damping for buildings and joint implant diagnostics
Baldwins Researcher Entrepreneur Award
- Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations
MinterEllisonRuddWatts Research and Business Partnership Award
- University of Auckland, Orion Health and Waitemata District Health Board: Precision Driven Health
PwC Commercial Deal Award
- UniServices: Soul Machines - humanizing the interface between man and machines
BNZ Supreme Award – for overall excellence in all core areas of research commercialisation:
- Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations
Lead KiwiNet Awards judge Dr Andrew Kelly, Executive Director at BioPacific Partners says, “The quality and sophistication of presentations rises every year and applicants are really demonstrating how commercially savvy they are. It’s great to see the commercial focus getting sharper. Yet again, we’re seeing the benefit of previous research commercialisation success stories, and some failures, and people are learning from those.”
Dr Kelly was joined on the judging panel by Rob Heebink, R&D Executive at Gallagher Group, Bridget Coates, co-founder of Kura™ and Chairman of White Cloud Dairy Innovation Ltd, and Paul Dyson, entrepreneur and angel investor.
KiwiNet CEO Dr James Hutchinson says, “We've had some really inspirational pitches from finalists today. They're showing that with some entrepreneurial spark, and the right support and commercial expertise, in New Zealand we can take our cutting edge technology innovations to the world.”
The annual KiwiNet Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate research commercialisation success. Sponsorship support is provided by BNZ, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, PwC, Baldwins, MBIE, Norman Barry Foundation and Sciencelens photography.
Jason Lewthwaite, Senior Partner at BNZ says, “Today’s winners have created game changing innovations that will create new commercial opportunities for New Zealand. BNZ is very pleased to be a long-time supporter of these awards as they inspire and celebrate people who are dedicated to making a global impact through cutting edge research, world leading product development which will in turn deliver a higher achieving New Zealand.”
Paul Stocks, Paul Stocks, Deputy Chief Executive of MBIE's Labour, Science and Enterprise group, says “Commercialisation of publicly-funded research drives innovation, helps to solve problems and creates economic growth for the benefit of all New Zealanders.”
The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) www.kiwinet.org.nz is a consortium of 16 universities, Crown Research Institutes and a Crown Entity established to boost commercial outcomes from publicly funded research. Principal support is also provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).
More information on the kiwinet awards winners
For further information please contact:
Sandra Lukey
Shine Group (PR for KiwiNet)
Phone: +64 21 2262 858
Email: sandra@shinegroup.co.nz