Spark and AUT join forces in world-leading innovation

Spark and AUT join forces in world-leading innovation

Spark and AUT have signed an agreement that will see the two innovators join forces to help solve real-world commercial problems.

The partnership signals a broader move within the technology space toward academics, creatives, corporates and other sectors working together to foster innovation.

Colab is a research and teaching institute of AUT which brings together students, artists, scientists, engineers, gamers and business leaders.

Head of Spark Ventures, Rod Snodgrass, said of the partnership, “Within Spark we have an ambition to unleash the potential in all New Zealanders. To do that, we’re focussing on developing technology and digital services that help enhance lives and businesses.

“I’ve always thought that to achieve things like this, corporates, start-ups and universities need to find more ways to work together and contribute to innovation here in New Zealand and globally.”

The co-director of AUT’s Colab, Associate-Professor Frances Joseph said “Colab is an exemplar of research and education using new technologies that is opening up new business opportunities and ways of doing things. We are challenging old models to find solutions that have economic and social value.”

AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack said, “Colab has advanced models of collaborative and integrated research and practice and is operating in ways that are very different from how universities have operated in the past.”

“Spark is also doing things differently from traditional telcos, and has a proven track record in innovation and entrepreneurship. Because of these shared traits we felt it would be an excellent partner for Colab.”

Colab was established in 2008 with the aim of bringing students and industry specialists from a range of backgrounds together in creative collaboration.

Previous Colab projects include a glove that can be used as a controller for video games for rehabilitation, winter gloves that use conductive fibres so people can use digital devices without having to remove them, a dress withaugmented reality, a dress that has lights that reflect the wearer’s mood and working on a new form of bulletproof material.

Through the partnership, Spark will contribute to Colab’s courses giving students real-world, commercial problems to work on and solve. Spark staff will also work with students on projects in a practical way.

Exactly what projects Colab will focus on in 2016 are set to be determined by Spark and AUT in the New Year.

ENDS

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