Callaghan Innovation customers win at Hi-Tech Awards

Callaghan Innovation customers win at Hi-Tech Awards

The calibre of winners at the 2017 Hi-Tech Awards highlights an exciting, rapidly growing industry that is critical to New Zealand’s future, says the government’s innovation agency.

Callaghan Innovation is celebrating success in the technology sector, with its customers winning every award and board member Frances Valintine inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Pushpay was named Hi-Tech Company of the Year and Biolytix won the Callaghan Innovation-sponsored Māori Innovation Award.

Pushpay, along with most of the winners, is a recipient of the agency’s research and development (R&D) grants.

“As the winners show, investment in R&D pays off. It’s critical to the success of any tech business and to a successful New Zealand economy,” Callaghan Innovation Chief Executive Vic Crone says.

More businesses are seeing the value in R&D. Newly released data shows a significant jump in the amount spent by Kiwi companies on research and development – a 29% increase from 2014-2016. Callaghan Innovation grant recipients increased their own R&D spending by 46 per cent in the same period.

“Callaghan Innovation helps businesses to take advantage of innovation and technology, to grow and diversify and, ultimately, to create more jobs for Kiwis,” Ms Crone says. We are delighted to have the privilege of working alongside each of tonight’s winners to help them realise their potential.”

The awards highlight the increasingly important contribution that Kiwi innovative high-tech companies make to New Zealand. The tech sector is our third largest exporting sector, contributing $16 billion to GDP. However, there is no room for complacency, Ms Crone says.
“We stand at a time in human history where the speed of technological change is unprecedented. Investment in innovation is crucial if businesses and New Zealand are to thrive.
“We’re making progress, exemplified by the companies at the Hi-Tech Awards, but there is a lot more to do. At Callaghan Innovation we are passionate about supporting great tech companies, so that Aotearoa can have the future it deserves.”

Notes to editors:

Pushpay was hailed by the judges as “a truly great example of nimble, fast-moving Kiwi innovation’. Its mobile app enables payments between registered merchants and customers, predominantly in the faith and charity sectors.
Biloytix develops and builds eco-friendly waste management units for use in locations unserved by sewer infrastructure.
Recipients of the prestigious Flying Kiwi award are recognised as pioneers in their field of technology. Ms Valintine is the founder and chair of The Mind Lab by Unitec, a pioneering private-public partnership focused on digital literacy in teaching. She is also the founder and director of Tech Futures Lab, and sits on the board of NZTech and Education New Zealand.
The full list of the 2017 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners:

2017 Flying Kiwi and inductee into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Frances Valintine

Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award
Aliesha Staples

Qual IT Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Sector Award
Orion Health & HealthOne

IBM Innovative Company of the year Award
Pushpay

ATEED Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector Award
Shotover Camera Systems

Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Maori Innovation Award
Biolytix

Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award
RedShield Security

Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award
Adherium

Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Services Award
RedShield Security

NZTE Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Agritech Sector Award
Compac

Quick Circuit Most Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Award
oDocs EyeCare

New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Latipay

Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Timely

PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award
Pushpay

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