Businesses get message on benefit of varsities

AUT vice-chancellor Derek McCormack. Photo / Richard Robinson

More than 200 business people are expected to be at AUT University next month for a Government-funded trade show promoting university research to businesses.

Seven of New Zealand's eight universities will be represented at the show, at which manufacturing services such as nanotechnology, clean technology, prototypes and embedded electronics will be displayed.

AUT vice-chancellor Derek McCormack said several other shows had been held and more would be held this year, giving 14 in total over two years. The shows were being held to demonstrate to businesses the benefit of working with universities and using their research.

"New Zealand needs to diversify its economy to progress further along the value chain," he said.

"That's why the Government is supporting this initiative."

McCormack said private sector businesses in New Zealand did not invest enough in research and development, mainly because of the size of businesses.

"This event is more about raising awareness for the business sector on working with universities than just commercialising research.

"The programme was put forward by Business New Zealand, which was concerned universities were not interested in working with businesses.

"But for the universities that wasn't true. We were very interested. So this is a way to bring the two together and build a relationship."

The trade shows are funded through the University Commercialisation Offices of New Zealand, which was formed in 2005 to bring the universities' commercialisation offices together.

The event at AUT will be held on Wednesday, February 9, at the Auckland city campus.