Industry News
Mesynthes, the Lower Hutt company that developed an organic tissue substitute for people with burns or severe skin injuries, was last night named the supreme winner of the Wellington Gold Awards. At a gala evening at the TSB Bank Arena, the company also took out the discovering gold award for the best research and development project for Endoform, a hi-tech, strong, shelf-stable tissue substitute. For the full story, click here
Listed biomedical company Pacific Edge has secured an exclusive licence agreement with a Spanish company to market its bladder cancer test - creating its second income stream after almost a decade in development. For the full story, click here

ERMA Roadshow: What Can We Do For You?
ERMA New Zealand is focused on reducing the burden of unnecessary regulation, allowing innovation while also protecting the environment. By discussing with us your business goals and future directions, we are eager to help you navigate potential regulatory roadblocks to get you there sooner.
Palmerston North - Wednesday 1 June 2011 - The BioCommerce Centre
Wellington - Friday 3 June 2011 - ERMA Office - Cancelled
Dunedin - Tuesday 7 June 2011 - Centre for Innovation
Christchurch - Wednesday 8 June 2011 - Plant and Food Research, Lincoln
To register for a workshop, or for more information please see the NZBIO Events Calendar

For more information click here

PM's Science Prize
Entries are now being accepted for the 2011 Prime Ministers Science Prizes. The awards are designed to honour some of New Zealand most respected and highly regarded individuals within the science community.
It would be great to see one of NZBIO's own members honoured with one of these awards. Please ensure you nomiate a deserving inidividual.Entries close Friday 29 July.

KiwiNet formed to boost commercialisation

The forum organised by the Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet), a newly formed group of six Universities and four Crown Research Institutes, aims to facilitate the development of relationships, project collaboration and best practice across public research organisations.
KiwiNet's mission is to facilitate and foster a thriving national innovation ecosystem capable of significantly transforming outputs of public research organisations to maximise economic benefits for New Zealand. Members of the initiative to establish KiwiNet include NZBIO members Industrial Research Limited, Otago Innovation Limited, Plant & Food Research, AgResearch, WaikatoLink and Scion as well as Lincoln University, AUT Enterprises Limited, University of Canterbury and Viclink.

Unlimited Investment Challenge
Now in its fifth year, the Challenge aims to help New Zealand companies get investment ready, through workshops, business planning, mentoring and pitch preparation. The multi-step process provides unique opportunities to engage with experts, learn new skills and review and re-focus your business.
For more information click here

Sustainable 60
Sustainable business practice increases brand reputation, share and business value, market share, staff engagement and productivity – reducing cost and risk.
For more information click here

NZBIO would like to thanks its premier sponsors

ENDS

BUDGET 2012:
Parliament Debate Live - Video Of Budget 2011
Keith Ng Interactive Graphic: How the Budget Breaks Down
BUDGET 2012 - FULL COVERAGE: Reports / Analysis - Press Kit - Reaction (from everybody) - Previews (from everybody) - Pre-Budget Announcements

Gordon Campbell: On the Budget’s Spreadsheet Victories

It wasn’t as if expectations were sky high, exactly. Chances are, it was always more likely that we’d be seeing Bigfoot rampage through the Beehive lock-up than catch a glimpse of a credible growth agenda from this government. More >>

Sludge Budget Report - Short The Dollar! MEMO: To international bankers FROM: C.D. Sludge Please short the dollar! It'll be good for both you and us. And you know you want to. Greexit, Eurogeddon... watch out... flight to quality and all that. Follow your instincts. The NZ Debt Management Office has been so surprised at the unprecedentedly low interest rates that it can borrow at that it has already entirely pre-funded the 2013 fiscal deficit - all $8 billion of it! More >>

Pattrick Smellie Comment: Doddling along the best we can hope forCriticising Budgets for lacking vision or imagination is like shooting fish in a barrel, but even so, this year's Budget again feels like a missed opportunity. Perhaps it's the intrusion of real world needs that means the government couldn't make better political use of the $558.8 million it expects to gather in its first partial asset sale. More >>