Government announces technology partnership programme

Local companies and researchers will have greater access to international advice through a technology partnership programme that will be piloted in New Zealand.

The Government today announced the partnership programme, developed by the Danish Technological Institute, would be available locally from August.

Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton said the programme would allow New Zealand firms and researchers to tap into a global network of 20,000 experts across a range of fields for advice.

Through the programme experts would provide advice in response to questions on product or process development, mostly within 10 days.

Companies could then choose which solutions they pursued.

He said the Danish Technological Institute was an independent, not-for-profit institution, that established the programme for Denmark in 1995.

It had since introduced the programme to four other countries.

The Foundation for Research Science and Technology will host the programme in New Zealand - recruiting and housing the project manager and consultants.

- NZPA