“The report highlights the increasingly important contribution that innovative hi-tech companies make to New Zealand, with the collective export revenues of the 200 largest tech companies now earning more than $7.3 billion in export revenues,” Mr Bridges says.

“The Government has backed the ICT sector to succeed and we are now seeing the results in the fantastic growth of the sector.”

The record-breaking figure has been revealed in the annual Technology Investment Network’s TIN100 Report, released today.

The TIN Report is an analysis of the performance of the top 200 New Zealand-founded hi-tech exporters by revenue in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Hi-Tech Manufacturing and Biotechnology.

Top performers include Datacom Group, Fisher & Paykel Appliances and Healthcare, Xero, and Gallagher Group. Highlights in this year’s report include:

The TIN200 tech companies produce the equivalent of 10% of all New Zealand exports; They have created 4,352 new jobs globally to employ over 43,000 staff in total; TIN200 growth has been concentrated outside of Auckland - Hamilton, Wellington and the South Island regions are leading TIN200 growth; Fintech, digital media and agritech are the fastest growing market sectors.

“It is particularly pleasing to see in this year’s report a 7.9 per cent increase in research and development investment, to $882m in total. Additional investment in R&D is a real investment in the future of any company, and helps boost the overall R&D investment levels of New Zealand companies,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“In addition, five Callaghan Innovation customer companies are included in the top 200 list, and generated nearly $94 million of revenue this year. All of those companies are investing in their own future, enabled by the support of Callaghan Innovation.”

“New Zealand’s technology companies are building a strong business-led R&D ecosystem, that is strengthening and diversifying New Zealand’s economy,” Mr Goldsmith says.

This year’s report also profiles several Māori-owned or Māori investment-backed technology companies that are making a significant contribution to New Zealand’s technology sector.

“Estimated to be worth $50 billion, the Māori economy is a significant and important contributor to New Zealand’s economy, and is playing an ever-increasing role in our economy,” Mr Bridges says.

“Our tech companies are leading the way and showing how far New Zealand can go when we invest in world-leading innovation.”

Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Auckland will be the first to take advantage of the Government’s $35 million investment in ‘Entrepreneurial Universities’, part of the Innovative New Zealand initiative in Budget 2016, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Paul Goldsmith announced today.

“The Entrepreneurial Universities fund aims to attract world-leading entrepreneurial academics to New Zealand, setting up their laboratories and teams in our universities,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Approximately $4 million will be awarded annually over 4 years in the first funding round to one Victoria University of Wellington programme and two University of Auckland programmes.

“Victoria University of Wellington will establish a new institute in 2018 - the Computational Media Innovation Centre (CMIC) led by Professor Ken Anjyo - with the aim of building a globally competitive research and entrepreneurship programme in Wellington,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The CMIC will incubate potential start-ups and industry pipelines to strengthen New Zealand’s computing and media ecosystem, placing it at the forefront of an emerging global digital media market that includes Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR).

“The University of Auckland also has a programme ready to start in early 2018, which will be led by one of the world’s emerging leaders in creating enabling human-computer interfaces, Dr Suranga Nanayakkara,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Dr Nanayakkara will join the University of Auckland’s Auckland Bioengineering Institute to continue his innovative research in human-computer interaction.

“Dr Nanayakkara’s work includes the development of wearable and sensory devices that can enable the vision- or hearing-impaired to perceive and make sense of their environment. His work in developing and commercialising assistive and rehabilitative technologies will further strengthen and grow New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The University of Auckland is finalising details of its second programme and this is expected to be completed shortly.

“New Zealand is already an attractive place to undertake research and our universities all have an international reputation for excellence, but it’s an extremely competitive environment and this fund allows our universities to compete on a global scale,” Mr Goldsmith says

“The benefits of the knowledge and networks world-leading academics will bring here are substantial, from undergraduates learning from the best, to New Zealand firms gaining partnership opportunities with leaders in their fields.”

Two other applications for funding from the first round are still under development, while a second funding round will be launched in November.

Over the next three years, the initiative is expected to bring 15-20 world-leading researchers and their teams to New Zealand. The Entrepreneurial Universities initiative is part of the Government’s initial Innovative New Zealand package in Budget 2016, worth a total of $761.4 million.

Callaghan Innovation has approved the 2017/18 round of Student Experience Grants, with 139 businesses to offer 358 students paid work over the summer break, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith announced today.

“This year saw a record number of businesses applying, with 179 businesses applying for 418 internships. This is a great sign that the scheme is valued by businesses and popular with students,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Since Callaghan Innovation was created in 2013, 274 different companies have been approved for an Experience Grant. As a result, over 800 students have undertaken an R&D Experience placement.”

The R&D Experience Grant is administered by Callaghan Innovation and supports undergraduate students studying science, technology, business, engineering or design to gain valuable work experience during the summer student break. The grant provides funding of $18 an hour for up to 400 hours of work.

The grants develop the technical skills of students in a professional, commercial R&D environment, while also providing businesses with expertise to further their work, which is the central aim of the programme.

Successful companies for 2017/18 include Tiro Medical, where students will be involved in the design and prototyping of 3D imaging health software, and InventoryTech Limited, where students will develop improved sensors to detect real-time consumption of first-aid kit items.

“The grant programme develops students into more work-ready, technically skilled graduates who can be easily absorbed into the fast-paced R&D and technology focused industries that are critical to New Zealand’s long-term economic success,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Companies benefit as they can take on more students as the cost and risk of bringing them into the business is reduced. And the students benefit from easier access to the technical experience they need for future employment opportunities, while at the same time giving them a visible career path in R&D that they can continue to work towards.”

The programme is available to businesses of any size that have a focus on research and development. The second and final tranche of approved businesses will be announced later this month. More information is available HERE.

Funding has been awarded for 68 new science research projects that will benefit New Zealand environmentally, economically, and socially, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith announced today.

The funding, totalling $248 million over the next five years, has been invested through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) 2017 Endeavour Fund, which received an $81.9 million funding boost over four years in Budget 2017.

“The Endeavour Fund is an important tool in the Government’s ten-year vision for a highly dynamic New Zealand science system,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“The Fund looks for transformative initiatives that propose excellent research and have strong potential to improve a range of outcomes for New Zealand, such as marine ecosystems and hybrid energy.

“This year the quality of applications was exceptional, and a diverse range of applications were received which will address some really important issues facing New Zealand.”

As part of the 2017 Endeavour Fund round, up to $15 million per year in total will be invested in 41 projects under the ‘Smart Ideas’ initiative over the next three years. Smart Ideas are innovative research projects that have a high potential to benefit New Zealand.

Up to $43 million per year in total will be invested in 27 Research Programmes over the next five years. Research Programmes support ambitious, well-defined research ideas, which have high potential to positively transform areas of future value, growth or critical need to New Zealand.

Some examples of the successful 2017 Endeavour Fund proposals include:

Developing hybrid-electric aircraft (Victoria University of Wellington); Recovering the trajectories of the marine ecosystem from the Kaikōura earthquakes (University of Canterbury); Improving NZ Pinot noir production (New Zealand Winegrowers); Exploring new technologies to improve weather forecasting (MetOcean Solutions Limited); Developing new charging technology for electric vehicles while parked or moving (University of Auckland).

“I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants and I look forward to seeing the new ideas and discoveries made possible by this investment,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The successful proposals were selected by the Science Board on 30 August, an independent statutory Board, following a review by independent experts. The new research contracts will begin on 1 October 2017.

More information on the successful proposals can be found HERE.

A number of new appointments have been made to three of the Government’s seven Crown Research Institutes, providing new talent and experience for the institutes, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith announced today.

“Crown Research Institutes generate real benefits for New Zealand by facilitating excellent research that spawns new ideas and innovations for both the public sector and private industries, promotes evidence that contributes to high-quality decision making, and seeks out answers to many of our national challenges,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The five appointments are to the Boards of The Institute of Environmental Science Research (ESR), The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science), and the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (Scion).

“These reappointments are a testimony to the strong leadership, commitment, and contribution these members have made to New Zealand’s science system. I welcome the valuable knowledge and experience these appointees will bring to their respective boards,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Professor Cris Print from Auckland University and Dr Andy Shenk, Chief Executive of Auckland Uniservices, the commercial arm of Auckland University have been appointed to the ESR Board. Professor Print is a specialist in human genomics and bioinformatics and Dr Shenk has extensive experience in the commercialisation of science and research.

Northland based professional director Paul White has been appointed to the GNS Board. Mr White currently sits on the Top Energy Board and a number of iwi based trusts.

General Manager of Arbogen Australasia, Greg Mann has been appointed to the Scion Board alongside previous Plant & Food Board Member Stana Pezic, who has extensive Chief Financial Officer experience.

All of the appointments are a for a term of one year.

Two new appointments have been made to the Board of Callaghan Innovation that will provide a new set of skills and business experience, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith announced today.

“The appointment of Mr Stefan Korn and Mr George Gong brings a strong combination of strategic thinking skills and perspective from an investor community,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Stefan Korn is an experienced entrepreneur, business strategist and investor with over 10 years of experience in managing high growth ventures, early stage investment and software development. He was a member of the Callaghan Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Group, is a founding investor in Lightning Lab, and has a PhD in Neural Networks/Artificial Intelligence and an MBA in International Business.

George Gong is an entrepreneur and Angel Investor with rich international business experiences in the Information Technology industry for over twenty years. In 2016 he started Zino Ventures, the first Chinese angel fund in New Zealand.

“Mr Korn has extensive business connections and a strong understanding of Callaghan Innovation’s role in the innovation system. He currently runs CreativeHQ, a leading business incubator that works with over 190 start-up ventures so brings excellent understanding of innovation,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Mr Gong maintains deep roots in China, where he began his career, and notably co-founded Beyondsoft. With his extensive experience with start-ups, investment, business mentoring, he will be an asset to Callaghan.”

Both of the appointments are for a term of one year.

Work has begun on the improvements to New Zealand’s geological hazards monitoring as announced in Budget 2017, Civil Defence Minister Nathan Guy and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have announced today.

The start of work was marked on a visit to a geotechnical drilling site at St Gerard’s Monastery in Wellington this morning.

“The investment of $19.5 million over four years will enhance New Zealand’s earthquake, tsunami, landslip and volcano monitoring capability,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Cabinet has approved plans to implement an upgraded 24/7 monitoring system that will significantly improve our ability to detect and communicate geological hazards – particularly tsunami – quickly and accurately.

“As part of a package of measures, GeoNet will increase the number of specialists monitoring information as it comes in and will coordinate with Civil Defence as necessary. There will also be improvements to GeoNet’s network of monitoring instruments, operations centre, hazard modelling, and monitoring tools.

“These enhancements build on the existing GeoNet infrastructure, developed between the Earthquake Commission and GNS Science over the past 16 years, which has become a trusted source of advice for Civil Defence and New Zealanders through the app and website,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“These changes will mean New Zealanders are better equipped with both long-term and real-time information about natural hazards,” says Mr Guy.

“We can better protect lives and property, increase preparedness and build our infrastructure, businesses and communities in ways that are more resilient to disruption.

“It’s an important shift away from simply managing the after effects of disasters. There is so much we can do when we are equipped with both long-term and real-time information about natural hazards.

“However, people who live in coastal areas and experience an earthquake that is long or strong, should move immediately to higher ground or as far inland as possible. There may not be time to warn people before the first tsunami waves arrive, in the case of local-source tsunami, even with these improvements.”

“Following the Kaikoura earthquake, the Government made $3 million available in December 2016 for GeoNet to make interim improvements to capability, equipment, procedures and systems, and lay the groundwork for longer term upgrades. This work is well underway and I expect to see a full shift to the new system by the end of next year,” Mr Goldsmith says.

More information can be found HERE.

New Zealand will invest AU$15.1 million in a programme to construct several new beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne and secure long-term access for Kiwi scientists, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith announced today.

“The Synchrotron is a powerful experimental tool that plays an important role in lifting the quality and impact of New Zealand research,” says Mr Goldsmith.

“Accelerating charged particles such as electrons to near the speed of light, the Synchrotron enables fields of study that are diverse and far-reaching.

“AU$6 million will go towards the construction of new beamlines for the facility, and will be matched by the research sector through the New Zealand Synchrotron Group.”

A further AU$9.1 million will also be invested over the next nine years to secure preferential access to the Synchrotron for Kiwi scientists.

“The new Bio-SAXS beamline will be used to study things like proteins and viruses and will be a priority beamline for New Zealand researchers. It will give them access to new specialised techniques needed for high quality research and innovation,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The research outcomes from the Bio-SAXS beamline will cover national research priorities ranging from the development of advanced biomaterials and biotechnologies, through to breakthroughs in medical research.

“Recently the Synchrotron helped New Zealand scientists develop a drug that could be used to treat multiple diseases such as cancer, stroke and hypertension. It has also been used for research into volcanic activity in New Zealand to help researchers better recognise any warning signs of an eruption,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“This is a prime example of successful collaboration between Australia and New Zealand under the Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement signed earlier this year.

“The developments at the Synchrotron are an exciting opportunity for the New Zealand research community that will provide far reaching benefits to New Zealand.”

The design of the new beamlines is planned to start in 2018 with two beamlines becoming operational by the end of the year. In the second year two more complex beamlines will be developed.

New data that shows the employment status and earnings of graduates from tertiary institutions will provide students with a valuable tool when making important decisions about their study options, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

The new Employment Outcomes of Tertiary Education data includes all Universities, Wānanga, and Polytechnics, and some government funded Private Training Establishments.

“A tertiary education is a significant choice for young people to make, and while the costs can seem daunting, the financial benefits after graduation can be significant,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“It’s important for students and their families to have the best information possible to help them make informed choices about their significant investment in tertiary education.

“Although many factors go into making a decision on what and where to study, students expect their investment in tertiary education to improve their career prospects. This new data will help students ensure they are making the best decision for their future.”

For the first time, students are able to compare graduates’ earnings by provider, accompanying the ability to compare earnings by qualification level and field of study at national-level which was introduced in 2013.

“The provider-level data on graduates’ employment status and earnings builds on the current data by allowing students to see whether graduates in their chosen field of study have different employment outcomes at different providers,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Publication of the employment outcomes data continues the progress towards a more student-centred system. This is one of the four key areas of work underway in response to the Productivity Commission report, New Models of Tertiary Education.

Students can compare earnings by qualification and field of study on the TEC’s careers.govt.nz website. They can also download the Occupation Outlook app, which gives an easy-to-use overview of the job demand, likely income levels, and training requirements for 108 different occupations.

The employment status and earnings data is from Statistics New Zealand, and is gathered by matching data on income, benefits, immigration, and tertiary qualifications on a confidential basis.

“The Government is committed to ensuring that our tertiary education system is relevant for both employers and students, and with this new data we are giving tertiary providers the power to make sure that their courses are relevant, and students the ability to make study choices that will benefit them,” Mr Goldsmith says.

The employment outcomes data by provider is available at education.govt.nz.

The Government will establish a new School of Rural Medicine within the next three years to produce more doctors for our rural communities, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“Every New Zealander deserves quality healthcare services, and we want to grow the number of doctors in rural and regional areas to make it easier for people in those areas to access other key health services,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“The new School of Rural Medicine will be specifically geared toward meeting the challenges faced by high need and rural areas of the country, and will produce around 60 additional doctors per year.

“I want to thank the University of Waikato and the Waikato DHB for putting forward the initial proposal, and Otago and Auckland Medical Schools for their joint proposal.

“The Government will now run a contestable business case process to consider all options for delivering the new School of Rural Medicine, and ensure it meets the needs of rural New Zealand.

“It is our intention that the successful applicant will be known in 2018 with the new medical school to be up and operating no later than 2020.”

The cost of the new school will be finalised through the business case process, but for example the Waikato proposal is seeking Government funding of around $300 million over ten years.

The Government’s contribution will be met through a combination of existing tertiary funding streams and future operating and capital budget allowances.

“The Government is committed to growing our medical workforce to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Since 2008 this Government has increased the number of medical students by 47 per cent, with over 530 doctors now being trained annually.

“The new School of Rural Medicine will add to this number, increasing particularly the number of doctors qualified for, and committed to, serving in rural communities.”