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Orion Health has received a nearly $5 million Government funding boost for a software project it hopes will create New Zealand's first $100 million software company.
The $4.78 million from Technology New Zealand forms part of the health technology company's $9.6 million investment in developing a framework that brings together various patient records.
Chief executive Ian McCrae said large hospitals were typically swamped with isolated islands of information from as many as 500 to 1000 different software products. Each holds a different part of information relating to a patient or activity.
"We are throwing all our resources behind this as it's crucial to get to market quickly. The process itself is commercially sensitive but the outcome will be a completely new way of putting health IT software together."
McCrae said others have made attempts in the past, but the technology has not allowed for it to happen.
"We are working right at the edge with technologies that are very new - so new in fact Orion Health is developing some of these as we go."
He said the two-year project would play a key part in the company's goal of being the country's first $100 million software company.
McCrae likened the company's progress to that of Olympic rowing.
"Just like rowing races, this industry is all about momentum. If we can get going, it just carries on and this significant influx of funding gives us a massive boost in momentum."
Founded in 1993 with just five employees, Orion now has more than 200 employees and 1000 clients in 20 countries. The new project could double its development staff to around 240, based primarily in Auckland.
