Techweek’s penultimate event, the Hi-Tech Awards, were announced at a gala dinner in Christchurch last Friday night, attended by kiwis representing our fastest growing industry. Winners on the night include Invenco, the Hi-Tech Company of the Year, Aliesha Staples, Healthcare Applications, Lillian Grace, Dexibit, Enatel, Beca, IBM, Gallagher Group, Banqer, Ask Nicely, and Straker Translations, which won Callaghan Innovation’s Maori Innovation Award.
Callaghan Innovation CEO, Vic Crone, says: “Technology has huge potential to solve many problems we face in business, in society and in our economy. These business are creating outstanding tech solutions driven by their passion to do good. It’s what makes New Zealand’s tech sector unique, and in turn their global excellence is attracting worldwide attention.
“What stood out most for me was the level of diversity, which is phenomenal by global tech standards. The representation is finally looking fairer in terms of gender, culture, age, early and established firms, industry application, and regions right across New Zealand. This was topped off by the sector’s timely and heartfelt embrace of our Maori heritage. Maori tech success is on the rise and there are signs that the Maori economy could play a key role as this nation's largest investors.”
Tap into New Zealand’s support networkMs Crone also sends a clear and urgent message to the wider business community - there is much to gain with technology, but everything to lose by standing still. “It’s a tough journey, but there is a wealth of support available both for technology-driven firms and those that simply want to use technology to solve day to day problems,” she says.
“Learning and collaborating with others in the innovation ecosystem is one of the best, but often missed, sources of support in solving difficult problems. Specifically tailored support for the right stage of growth can mean the difference between going global or giving up.“Over the past five years at Callaghan Innovation we’ve worked with thousands of successful kiwi businesses, including a fantastic 70% of this year’s Hi-Tech Award business finalists.
“Our experts work hand-in-hand with firms of all different sizes to develop and protect their technology, commercialise their products, source R&D support, grow their markets and connect into the domestic and global innovation ecosystem.“We’re urging businesses to check out the support available and get in touch."
Working alongside Callaghan Innovation is a host of Government organisations offering support for innovators, including MBIE, NZVIF, NZTE and the Crown Research Institutes, as well as industry bodies and private sector supporters, such as incubators and accelerators.For more information about Callaghan Innovation’s services visit our website. Callaghan Innovation is a proud supporter of Techweek’18, New Zealand's annual festival of innovation and technology.
