KiwiNet awards celebrate innovation game changers

Description: KiwiNet

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KiwiNet awards celebrate innovation game changers

HAMILTON, New Zealand, 18 March 2013 – Entries are open for the inaugural KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards designed to celebrate success within New Zealand’s research organisations.

The KiwiNet awards are seeking entries from innovation “game changers”, whose approach is changing the landscape of research commercialisation. Entries are open until 18 April, 2013.

Hon Ruth Richardson the Chairman of KiwiNet says, “Being an innovation game changer is about connecting and collaborating in ways that advance New Zealand’s ambition to become globally recognised leader in research commercialisation.”

The five award categories are:

· Commercialisation Collaboration Award

· Researcher Entrepreneur Award

· Research & Business Partnership Award

· People’s Choice Award

· Supreme Deal Award

The KiwiNet Awards, to be held on 19 June 2013, are a first in New Zealand’s research commercialisation landscape as they recognise that commercialisation is as much about people and culture as it is about the technologies being commercialised.

Dr Bram Smith, the General Manager of KiwiNet says, “It’s time to recognise the tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes turning research ideas into commercial value. These awards will bring together the innovation community to celebrate our heroes in this space and inspire others to similar success.”

The awards day and evening reception will run back-to-back with the biannual KiwiNet Commercialisation Forum on 19 and 20 June at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

Paul Stocks, Deputy Chief Executive of MBIE’s Science, Skills and Innovation Group, said the commercialisation of innovative research is important for New Zealand’s future growth, and MBIE supports KiwiNet’s efforts in this area.

The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) (www.kiwinet.org.nz), is a consortium of New Zealand universities and crown research institutes collaborating on research commercialisation. KiwiNet partner organisations include WaikatoLink, Plant & Food Research, Otago Innovation Ltd, Lincoln University, AUT Enterprises, AgResearch, University of Canterbury, Callaghan Innovation, Viclink and Landcare Research. Support is also provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.

For more on the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards see http://kiwinet.org.nz

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