KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards Winners

2017 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards winners driving prosperity from science and innovation

Hamilton, NZ, 14 July 2017 – Winners of the fifth annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, designed to celebrate commercialisation success within New Zealand’s universities and Crown Research Institutes, were announced at a reception in Auckland last night.

The 2017 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards winners are:

Norman F. B. Barry Foundation Emerging Innovator Award

• Dr Geoff Rodgers, University of Canterbury: Seismic damping for buildings and joint implant diagnostics

Baldwins Researcher Entrepreneur Award

• Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations

MinterEllisonRuddWatts Research and Business Partnership Award

• University of Auckland, Orion Health and Waitemata District Health Board: Precision Driven Health

PwC Commercial Deal Award

• UniServices: Soul Machines - humanizing the interface between man and machines

BNZ Supreme Award – for overall excellence in all core areas of research commercialisation:

• Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations

Lead KiwiNet Awards judge Dr Andrew Kelly, Executive Director at BioPacific Partners says, “The quality and sophistication of presentations rises every year and applicants are really demonstrating how commercially savvy they are. It’s great to see the commercial focus getting sharper. Yet again, we’re seeing the benefit of previous research commercialisation success stories, and some failures, and people are learning from those.”

Dr Kelly was joined on the judging panel by Rob Heebink, R&D Executive at Gallagher Group, Bridget Coates, co-founder of Kura™ and Chairman of White Cloud Dairy Innovation Ltd, and Paul Dyson, entrepreneur and angel investor.

KiwiNet CEO Dr James Hutchinson says, “We've had some really inspirational pitches from finalists today. They're showing that with some entrepreneurial spark, and the right support and commercial expertise, in New Zealand we can take our cutting edge technology innovations to the world.”

The annual KiwiNet Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate research commercialisation success. Sponsorship support is provided by BNZ, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, PwC, Baldwins, MBIE, Norman F. B. Barry Foundation and Sciencelens photography.

Jason Lewthwaite, Senior Partner at BNZ says, “Today’s winners have created game changing innovations that will create new commercial opportunities for New Zealand. BNZ is very pleased to be a long-time supporter of these awards as they inspire and celebrate people who are dedicated to making a global impact through cutting edge research, world leading product development which will in turn deliver a higher achieving New Zealand.”

Paul Stocks, Paul Stocks, Deputy Chief Executive of MBIE's Labour, Science and Enterprise group, says “Commercialisation of publicly-funded research drives innovation, helps to solve problems and creates economic growth for the benefit of all New Zealanders.”

The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) www.kiwinet.org.nz is a consortium of 16 universities, Crown Research Institutes and a Crown Entity established to boost commercial outcomes from publicly funded research. Principal support is also provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).

For more information on the KiwiNet Awards winners see https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2017

IMAGES AND VIDEOS:

Please attribute images to Sciencelens

1. Norman F. B. Barry Foundation Emerging Innovator Award: Winner:
Dr Geoff Rodgers, University of Canterbury: Seismic damping for buildings and joint implant diagnostics
Image #1 – Dr Geoff Rodgers, University of Canterbury with John Smith, Chairman, Norman FB Barry Foundation (left to right)
Video link: https://youtu.be/iT4E1SQPQf4

2. Baldwins Researcher Entrepreneur Award: Winner:
Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations

Image #2 – Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington with Tim Jackson, Partner, Baldwins (left to right)
Video link: https://youtu.be/0NMi-G6yC6I

3. MinterEllisonRuddWatts Research & Business Partnership Award: Winner:
University of Auckland, Orion Health and Waitemata District Health Board: Precision Driven Health
Image #3 – Dr Gill Dobbie, Kate Reid and Dr Robyn Whittaker from Precision Driven Health (left to right) with Richard Wells, Partner - Corporate and Commercial, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Video link: https://youtu.be/jURMJrMtvwY

4. PwC Commercial Deal Award: Winner:
UniServices: Soul Machines - humanizing the interface between man and machines
Image #4– Dr Mark Sagar from Soul Machines with Dr Evelyn Body and Dr Nicola Johnstone from UniServices and Scott Kerse, Partner, PwC (left to right)
Video link: https://youtu.be/wnGGc4GSfY0

5. BNZ Supreme Award – for overall excellence in all core areas of research commercialisation:
Prof Richard Furneaux, Victoria University of Wellington: Carbohydrate chemistry innovations
Image #5 – Prof Richard Furneaux with Graeme Free, Head of Specialist Solutions, BNZ Partners (left to right)
Video link: https://youtu.be/0NMi-G6yC6I

ENDS

About KiwiNet

The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) comprises universities and crown research institutes and agencies working together to increase the scale and impact of scientific and technology based innovation in New Zealand. KiwiNet’s role is to empower those involved in research commercialisation by helping them access the tools, connections, investment and support they need. By working together, KiwiNet aims to better leverage the combined capability of NZ research organisations and help each other to achieve greater commercial outcomes for New Zealand. KiwiNet partner organisations include WaikatoLink, Plant & Food Research, Otago Innovation Ltd, Lincoln University, AUT Enterprises, AgResearch, University of Canterbury, Callaghan Innovation, Viclink, Landcare Research, Cawthron Institute, ESR, NIWA, Scion, Malaghan Institute and GNS Science. Principal support is also provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). www.kiwinet.org.nz

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