Innovation: Tech companies vie for top award

Bill Buckley's company Buckley Systems is a finalist for the top award. Photo / David White

Two software companies, Xero and Serko, as well as manufacturing firm Buckley Systems are in the running for the top prize - Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2013 - at this year's New Zealand Hi-Tech awards.

The finalists were announced last night.

Xero makes cloud-based accounting software, and Serko creates online corporate travel booking software. Buckley Systems manufactures electromagnets, charged particle beam line systems and high-vacuum equipment.

The awards are in their 19th year and the winners of each of the 12 categories will be unveiled in May. The 12-person judging panel for this year's awards include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Kiwi expat and Google director of Engineering, Craig Nevill-Manning.

Chairman of the Hi-Tech Trust Wayne Norrie said "amazing new companies" had emerged in this year's entries.

"This year's finalists range from companies in their infancy through to some of our biggest and most high profile high-tech companies," Norrie said. "New Zealand technology companies have a unique flavour that extends well beyond the realms of traditional ICT.

"It is great to see such a range of entries across the board and so many companies entering who are just embarking on their big journey."

Full list of finalists :

PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2013
• Buckley Systems
• Serko
• Xero

Cisco Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year 2013
• EROAD
• GreenButton
• HydroWorks
• Living Cell Technologies

MBIE Science, Skills and Innovation Group Hi-Tech Start up Company of the Year 2013
• BIMstop
• Carnival Labs
• Oritain Global
• RedSeed

New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) Hi-Tech Pre-Commercialisation Company of the Year 2013
• Performance Labs
• Sensagrid
• Solar Bright
• Timely
• Trigger Happy
• Veritide

Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product 2013
• Carnival Labs
• CropLogic
• KlickEx
• Matakina Technology
• Vend
• Wynyard Group

State Government of Victoria, Australia Innovative Hi-Tech Service Product 2013
• KlickEx
• Shapeshifter
• Vend

Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product 2013
• 3i Innovation
• Compac Sorting Equipment
• Fusion Electronics
• ikeGPS

Telecom Business Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Product 2013
• Carnival Labs
• ikeGPS
• KlickEx
• Mobi2Go

Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever 2013
• Robert Bell
• Guy Horrocks
• James Robertson
• Sam Talwar

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Best Contribution to the NZ Hi-Tech Sector from a Multinational Company 2013
• Microsoft
• Navico
• Sprint International

HSBC + NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year over $5M 2013
• ARANZ Geo
• Buckley Systems
• Compac Sorting Equipment
• Xero

HSBC + NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year $500,000 to $5m 2013
• 3i Innovation
• Carnival Labs
• Vend