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New Zealand’s Innovation Agency seeks Technology Incubator applicants

There is an extensive search for incubators having the right knowledge and connections that will unlock the potential of deep tech commercialisation in New Zealand.

As reported, Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand’s Innovation Agency, recently launched a request for proposals (RFP) to find new incubators for the country’s Technology Incubator programme.

Technology Incubator programme

Local and international providers are welcome to apply.

Successful incubators will be tasked with guaranteeing that the country’s deep technical and scientific research, and complex technology, will translate to successful commercial outcomes.

To date the Technology Incubator pilot programme has produced 45 new deep tech start-ups and attracted more than NZ$ 50 million in investments since its launch in 2014.

Being included in the Technology Incubator programme poses a lot of benefits, particularly in the development of a company.

Through the programme, participants can learn a wide range of skills from people within the incubation environment.

A participant, from a previous batch, shared what he gained from being an incubator. Participants can gain invaluable insights around product market fit and working with customers to create a market.

Additionally, being in the incubator environment provides training and coaching on pitching and capital raising. They can also gain access to investors, and assistance with preparation of deal documentation.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s General Manager of Science, Innovation and International shared how having access to the right support, expertise and connections can make all the difference for start-ups.

Creating productive businesses out of complex research like biotech and aerospace technology can be a tough road.

The Technology Incubator programme bridges that gap between concept and commercialisation.

Who can join the next iteration?

With the next iteration of the Technology Incubator programme launching in 2020, the focus is on connecting companies with greater international experience and investment access.

Incubators should have a wealth of international commercialisation expertise, access to international investment and pathways to market.

There are some excellent expertise and knowledge locally that the programme can draw on, and the RFP also presents opportunities for international providers who are willing to establish a team in New Zealand.

Successful incubators will be expected to report regularly and share data on the progress and deep tech commercialisation milestones of the companies they are working with.

New Zealand’s deep-tech ecosystem is fast-emerging. There is a rich well of deep technical and scientific research with the potential to solve many problems, locally and around the world.

In order to ensure this IP makes it into the world and is converted into successful commercial outcomes such as high value businesses, jobs and exports, right mentors, connections and capital should be in place.

As shared by a another participant from a previous batch, successful commercialisation of deep-tech is a complex beast that requires a unique combination of skill-sets and capability, especially in developing business models based on complex intellectual property.

Incubators with robust knowledge, experience, networks and mana in deep-tech will be critical to identifying and understanding how to mitigate the unique risks associated with science-based start-ups.

The RFP is for the delivery of Technology Incubator services, with an emphasis on deep-tech commercialisation experience, over an eight-year contract period starting in 2020.

Incubators are expected to establish a significant presence in New Zealand, including the permanent location of key management and incubation expertise in New Zealand.

The RFP deadline is Friday 4 October 2019, but applicants are encouraged to apply early.

PARTNER

Qlik’s vision is a data-literate world, where everyone can use data and analytics to improve decision-making and solve their most challenging problems. A private company, Qlik offers real-time data integration and analytics solutions, powered by Qlik Cloud, to close the gaps between data, insights and action. By transforming data into Active Intelligence, businesses can drive better decisions, improve revenue and profitability, and optimize customer relationships. Qlik serves more than 38,000 active customers in over 100 countries.

PARTNER

CTC Global Singapore, a premier end-to-end IT solutions provider, is a fully owned subsidiary of ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) and ITOCHU Corporation.

Since 1972, CTC has established itself as one of the country’s top IT solutions providers. With 50 years of experience, headed by an experienced management team and staffed by over 200 qualified IT professionals, we support organizations with integrated IT solutions expertise in Autonomous IT, Cyber Security, Digital Transformation, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Workplace Modernization and Professional Services.

Well-known for our strengths in system integration and consultation, CTC Global proves to be the preferred IT outsourcing destination for organizations all over Singapore today.

PARTNER

Planview has one mission: to build the future of connected work. Our solutions enable organizations to connect the business from ideas to impact, empowering companies to accelerate the achievement of what matters most. Planview’s full spectrum of Portfolio Management and Work Management solutions creates an organizational focus on the strategic outcomes that matter and empowers teams to deliver their best work, no matter how they work. The comprehensive Planview platform and enterprise success model enables customers to deliver innovative, competitive products, services, and customer experiences. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with locations around the world, Planview has more than 1,300 employees supporting 4,500 customers and 2.6 million users worldwide. For more information, visit www.planview.com.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

SIRIM is a premier industrial research and technology organisation in Malaysia, wholly-owned by the Minister​ of Finance Incorporated. With over forty years of experience and expertise, SIRIM is mandated as the machinery for research and technology development, and the national champion of quality. SIRIM has always played a major role in the development of the country’s private sector. By tapping into our expertise and knowledge base, we focus on developing new technologies and improvements in the manufacturing, technology and services sectors. We nurture Small Medium Enterprises (SME) growth with solutions for technology penetration and upgrading, making it an ideal technology partner for SMEs.

PARTNER

HashiCorp provides infrastructure automation software for multi-cloud environments, enabling enterprises to unlock a common cloud operating model to provision, secure, connect, and run any application on any infrastructure. HashiCorp tools allow organizations to deliver applications faster by helping enterprises transition from manual processes and ITIL practices to self-service automation and DevOps practices. 

PARTNER

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

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