KiwiNet Awards 2014
The second KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards were held in 2014, at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland. Jenny Mangan and Meredith Ross, Science Learning Hubs team members, attended the finalists’ presentations and came away excited by the vibrancy and diversity in New Zealand’s innovation sector.
‘Dark moments’ in innovation
Presenters at the 2014 KiwiNet Awards describe the darkest moments in their own journeys in innovation and research commercialisation. The impromptu ‘darkest moments’ challenge was set by MC Mark Robotham.
In this article, you can read about the winners and finalists in each KiwiNet Awards category. Follow the links at the end of the article for videos about the winners and finalists and coverage of the awards on television and social media.
What the finalists had to do
Over the course of the day, the KiwiNet Awards finalists (12 in total) each gave a short presentation about their work. They had the opportunity to describe the story behind their technology or innovation, to explain how their research-industry collaboration worked (where appropriate) and to outline their progress on the path to commercialising a product. Following their presentation, each finalist was questioned closely by the panel of judges – Dr Andrew Kelly, Ray Thompson and Helen Robinson.
If you're not making mistakes you're not making anything.
AJ Park Commercialisation Collaboration Award
According to the kiwinet.org.nz website, the Commercialisation Collaboration Award “recognises the outstanding new collaborations formed between multiple research organisations working together to build national scale around a technology platform or address a business need”.
TiTeNZ presentation
Warwick Downing (Titanium Industry Development Association) and Ian Brown (Callaghan Innovation) describe the work of TiTeNZ (Titanium Technologies New Zealand) at the 2014 KiwiNet Awards.
Titanium Technologies New Zealand (TiTeNZ) was the winner in this award category. TiTeNZ is a collaboration between the University of Waikato, Callaghan Innovation, GNS Science, Auckland University, the Titanium Industry Development Association (TIDA) and others. Its aim is to create a world-class, New Zealand-based platform in titanium powder metallurgy.
The presenters – Ian Brown (Callaghan Innovation) and Warwick Downing (TIDA) – described several titanium products that TiTeNZ has helped to develop, from a safety knife for the Team New Zealand America’s Cup syndicate to an artificial dog jawbone and a firearm suppressor.
Titanium Technologies New Zealand – Titanium Powder Metallurgy
Titanium Technologies New Zealand (TiTeNZ), the winner of the AJ Park Commercialisation Collaboration Award, is a collaboration between the University of Waikato, Callaghan Innovation, GNS Science, Auckland University, the Titanium Industry Development Association (TIDA) and a number of industry partners.
Landcare Research and TBfree New Zealand – Eradicating Bovine Tuberculosis
TB Eradication and Research Manager for Tbfree New Zealand Paul Livingstone and Landcare Research scientist Bruce Warburton discuss their collaboration to address the problem of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in the dairy, beef and deer industries.
The other finalist in this category was a Landcare Research and TBfree New Zealand collaboration. Together, the two organisations are working to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) in New Zealand.
Researcher Entrepreneur Award
Alistair Jerrett
Alistair Jerrett (Plant & Food Research) celebrates winning the Researcher Entrepreneur Award at the 2014 KiwiNet Awards. Alistair was recognised for his research into transformative fishing technologies that are more humane and selective and standard commercial fishing practices.
This award celebrates individual researchers who have either created innovative businesses or contributed strongly to business innovation.
Alistair Jerrett (Science Group Leader, Plant & Food Research) won the Researcher Entrepreneur Award. For 15 years, Alistair’s research has been devoted to finding new ways to harvest fish commercially – techniques that are humane, avoid bycatch of smaller fish and deliver fish that are rested and in excellent condition.
Alistair Jerrett – Seafood Industry Innovation
Alistair Jerrett (Science Group Leader, Plant & Food Research) won the Researcher Entrepreneur Award for his work with Precision Seafood Harvesting (PSH). PSH were also the winners of the People’s Choice Supreme Award. find out more about their work to find new ways to harvest fish commercially – techniques that are humane, avoid bycatch of smaller fish and deliver fish that are rested and in excellent condition.
During his presentation, Alistair described the new harvest technology that he and others have developed – an ‘underwater aquarium’ that brings fish to the surface without the use of nets.
The other finalists in this category were Iain Anderson (Auckland University and StretchSense) for his work on artificial muscle technologies and Ian Yule (Massey University) who has developed the C-Dax Pasture Meter and other technologies to give farmers detailed information about their crops and pastures.
Iain Anderson – Artificial Muscle Technology
Associate Professor Iain Anderson is Group Leader for the Biomimetics Laboratory and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Auckland.
Ian Yule – Pasture Meter
Professor Ian Yule of Massey University and C-Dax Innovations manager Rob Murray explain the Pasture Meter – a crop and pasture-sensing tool that was developed by Massey University and commercialised by C-Dax.
Ian Yule – Aerial Scanning for Pasture Analysis
Professor Ian Yule, Massey University, is interested in precision agriculture sensing. He has developed a number of tools for the market. Here, Ian and Massey University, Commercialisation and IP Manager Russell Wilson talk about an aerial mapping solution for pasture and crop sensing. This aerial mapping technology not only looks at protein and energy available in pastures but can also be used in aerial fertiliser application.
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Research and Business Partnership Award
With this award, KiwiNet recognises that a strong working relationship between business and a research organisation can be of significant commercial value to New Zealand.
Fred Samandari and James Kyd
Fred Samandari (Wireless Research Centre) and James Kyd (Tait Communications) celebrate their win at the KiwiNet Awards 2014. Tait and the WRC were awarded both the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Research and Business Partnership Award and the BNZ Supreme Award.
The winners of the award were Tait Communications and the Wireless Research Centre (WRC, University of Canterbury) for their long-standing partnership and their co-development of wireless communication technologies.
Fred Samandari (WRC) and James Kyd (Tait) described how closely Tait and WRC work together and explained that the partnership has made it possible for Tait to expand its business into new markets (including overseas markets).
Tait Communications and Wireless Research Centre – Wireless Communication Technologies
Fred Samandari and Graeme Woodward from the Wireless Research Centre (WRC) at the University of Canterbury explain their successful collaboration with Tait Communications, combining forces in the development of technology in LTE broadband, narrowband mobile radio, coverage extension, enhanced reliability and situational awareness.
The other finalists in this category were:
Heilala Vanilla and Massey University, who work closely to develop premium value-added products from Heilala’s vanilla beans
Precision Seafood Harvesting (Plant & Food Research, Ministry for Primary Industries and industry partners), who collaborate to develop technologies to transform the way that New Zealand fishes
Plant & Food Research and ETEC Crop Solutions, who have worked together to develop new pheromone-based technologies to control insect pests in New Zealand.
Heilala Vanilla and Massey University – Value-added Vanilla Products
Jennifer Boggis, Director Heilala Vanilla, and Associate Professor Marie Wong from Massey University discuss their collaboration to develop new value-added vanilla products from Heilala vanilla.
Precision Seafood Harvesting – Changing the Way New Zealand Fishes
Graham Stuart, CEO of Sealord, and researcher Alistair Jerrett from Plant & Food Research discuss the development of a modular fish harvesting system for deepsea fishing. The system aims for better deepsea commercial harvesting of fish while minimising bycatch. Alistair Jerrett won the Researcher Entrepreneur Award, and the Precision Seafood Harvesting (PSH) group won the People’s Choice Award.
Plant & Food Research and Etec Crop Solutions – Pheromone-based Insecticide
Dr Max Suckling, Science Group Leader at Plant & Food Research, and John Read, Managing Director of Etec Crop Solutions, talk about their collaboration on a pheromone-based insecticide. The insecticide – 4Play – has resulted in residue-free apples and a subsequent opening up of the international apple market for New Zealand-based growers.
Commercial Deal Award
The Commercial Deal Award recognises excellence in research commercialisation.
Learning about kifunensine
KiwiNet attendees listen to the presentation by Paul Benjes and Tony Davidson (GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation) on kifunensine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of an enzyme replacement therapy. The success of GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation in making and selling kifunensine saw them receive the Commercial Deal Award at the KiwiNet Awards 2014.
GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation – Kifunensine
The winners of the Commercial Deal Award were GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation for their work on kifunensine – a crucial ingredient in the manufacture of an enzyme replacement therapy.
The winners of the Commercial Deal Award were GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation, for their work on kifunensine – a crucial ingredient in the manufacture of an enzyme-replacement therapy. Paul Benjes and Tony Davidson (GlycoSyn and Callaghan Innovation) described how GlycoSyn developed and patented a manufacturing process for kifunensine. As one of the few providers worldwide of pharmaceutical grade kifunensine, GlycoSyn generates millions of dollars of revenue annually – after all, on a per-gram basis, it is 20 times more valuable than gold!
The other finalists in this category were Springfree™ Trampoline, for the commercial success of their innovative trampoline (40,000 units now sold worldwide per year), and the C-Dax Pasture Meter (C-Dax and Massey University), which is sold worldwide and can benefit the average New Zealand dairy farm by $57,000 per year.
People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Supreme Award recognises overall excellence in research commercialisation. It was voted on by KiwiNet Awards attendees, after all the day’s presentations were complete.
Precision Seafood Harvesting
Gerard Janssen, Suzy Black and Alistair Jerrett (Precision Seafood Harvesting) celebrate winning the People’s Choice Award at the KiwiNet Awards 2014. The trio described the new technologies being developed at Precision Seafood Harvesting, which aim to transform commercial fishing in New Zealand and beyond.
The winner of the People’s Choice Supreme Award was Precision Seafood Harvesting (PSH), who are working to change the way New Zealand fishes. The consortium of Plant & Food Research, Ministry for Primary Industries and industry partners are developing humane fishing technologies that minimise bycatch and deliver rested fish. Alistair Jerrett, winner of the Research Entrepreneur Award, is a key member of the PSH team.
BNZ Supreme Award
The BNZ Supreme Award recognises overall excellence in the core areas of research commercialisation. It was awarded to Tait Communications and WRC, who also won the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Research and Business Partnership Award.
Activity idea
The KiwiNet Awards celebrate successful innovation in New Zealand. To explore the concept of innovation further in a New Zealand context, students could use this activity on unpacking innovation.
Related content
Take a look at some of the other winners of the Kiwinet Awards in 2013, 2015, 2016 2017 and 2018.
Useful links
Check out the KiwiNet website and their YouTube channel to view videos of the winners and finalists, information about the award categories, biographies of the judges and more.
Learn more about Precision Seafood Harvesting, Tait Communications and the Wireless Research Centre (WRC).
