Ag Exports the Key Focus as Park Turns Five

MEDIA RELEASE
19 February 2009
Ag Exports the Key Focus as Waikato Innovation Park Turns Five

Five years ago today the Honourable Jim Anderton, then Minister of Economic Development, along with hundreds of national and Waikato VIPs were on hand to cut the ribbon and officially open the Waikato Innovation Park, adjacent to Ruakura Research Centre in Hamilton.

Upon opening, the Innovation Park was fully tenanted with 19 companies under its roof. Today there are 40 companies and over 250 people working in the Master Builders-award winning building.

Within the last five years, the Waikato Innovation Park has claimed the position of Australasia’s only technology park solely focused on growing agri-technology businesses. It is also New Zealand’s leading technology park, contributing an estimated 507 jobs and $34 million annually to Gross Regional Product (GRP), according to a 2007 University of Waikato economic impact study.

As the Park celebrates its fifth birthday, construction crews are busy on the Park’s third expansion, erecting the 3000 m2 TetraPak building, which will be opened in August 2009. This will house at least three (3) new tenants and 150 employees.

CEO, Derek Fairweather, says the main focus for the Park moving forward is on helping New Zealand’s agricultural technology companies gain access to international markets.

“Our current expansion is primarily about growing our business development services in order to tap global markets. The Park’s aim is to help leading New Zealand companies grow by aggregating their capabilities and helping them find large, international export opportunities,” says Mr Fairweather.

Working under the brands of NZ Dairy Solutionz and NZ Sheep and Beef Solutionz, Innovation Park staff are is working to extend the presence of New Zealand’s very best agri-business and agri-technologies overseas.

“Over the next few months we’ll be able to announce some very exciting developments that will see New Zealand technologies introduced to new global markets.

“In addition to cementing the Park’s role as New Zealand’s leading agri-technology and agri-business exporter, we continue to build the Innovation Park’s onshore commercial services to nurture and add value to our tenants and other emerging agri-technology enterprises throughout New Zealand,”explains Mr Fairweather.

The Innovation Park’s current expansion is made possible by a Ministry of Economic Development grant of $4 million, as well as a commitment by Hamilton City Council to boost the MED’s investment with a further $2.4 million.

The anchor tenant in the new building is multinational food processing and packaging solutions company, Tetra Pak. Existing Innovation Park tenant, Tandberg – a multinational video communications company - will also move into the new building as the second largest tenant.

In addition to the current expansion, Hamilton-based Hill Laboratories has signed a Heads of Agreement with the Innovation Park to build a 6000m2 building onsite to consolidate all their operations into a single headquarters. Construction dates are still to be finalised.

Mr Fairweather says the Waikato Innovation Park is setting its sights high for the next five years.

“During our first five years, the Park has earned its position as the hub of New Zealand’s agri-technology businesses. If you want to start up or grow an agri-technology company, there is no better place in the world to be than the Waikato Innovation Park.

“In five years time, our vision is that the NZ Solutionz brands will have built a strong collaborative presence for New Zealand’s agri-technologies and agri-businesses in key overseas markets.” says Mr Fairweather.

“The Park’s philosophy is to encourage collaboration and we know that New Zealand companies can work together to deliver world leading agricultural developments. And it’s vital that we continue to grow the Park with new building developments, as this is the domestic launch pad for innovation in the agri-biotechnology sectors.”

ENDS

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