Research provides innovation roadmap for Auckland   30 Nov 2015

Massey University

Research provides innovation roadmap for Auckland

New Zealanders need to change a prevailing ‘do-it-yourself’ mindset if we want to develop successful innovation districts in this country, says a Massey University entrepreneurship researcher.

Dr Rebecca Gill, the lead researcher for the Grow North Innovation District research project, will report her findings at a summit at Massey University’s Auckland campus today. The research investigates the opportunities and challenges to developing an innovation district in Auckland North, but also has implications for innovation hubs in other parts of Auckland and New Zealand.

“While Kiwis are quick to invent new solutions, there is also a mentality that success comes from an independent, do-it-yourself effort,” Dr Gill says. “While this ability is viewed as a national strength, it also contributes to a mindset that leads to non-collaboration, slow commercialisation of innovation and globally naïve strategies.

“In successful innovation districts overseas ‘coopetition’ – or cooperative competition – is considered a healthy thing, but New Zealand startups are generally hesitant to develop these sorts of partnerships.”

Dr Gill says her research, which involved extensive interviews with business, education and local government leaders in Auckland North, uncovered a sense of frustration that there was no framework for sharing information and knowledge in a way that improves the innovation ecosystem.

“There are pockets of innovation all over Auckland North, but we really need to mobilise open collaboration and connections between these existing groups,” she says. “Then you’ll see those connections multiply to create an ecosystem – a place where clever businesses work together and local schools, Massey University and industry are completely integrated.”

At the Grow North summit Dr Gill will also present a roadmap, based on her research findings, for establishing an innovation district in Auckland North, and connecting it to other innovation sites in Auckland and around the country.

She says the first step in the roadmap will be to establish the Grow North Trust, a steering group to “steward the process forward”. The group will be made up of key figures from industry, the education sector, government and also include venture capitalists.

The next priority, Dr Gill says, is to connect the clusters that already exist across Auckland North and introduce incentives to encourage collaboration.

“To get things started I think there needs to be an online portal where innovators can identify themselves and share what they are doing so useful connections can be made.

“We currently lack an R&D capability database that can easily be tapped into when firms want to purchase each other’s innovation or collaborate on development.”

Other initiatives in the roadmap include engaging secondary and tertiary students in real innovative projects, with business mentors providing support at every stage of the education pipeline.

“Students could receive academic credits for work experience in new economy businesses, and this also gives industry an opportunity to access and develop the future talent they need.”

Dr Gill says it will also be important to start the conversation about eventually funding the creation of some physical spaces like a public innovation centre, for holding workshops and lectures, connected to public and commercial spaces for co-working and shared services.

“Good transport links are important too and, if it all comes together, you can create a region that has a great reputation for lifestyle that also draws innovative businesses because they want to access the benefits of the ecosystem.”

ENDS

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more