The traditional powerhouses of New Zealand research and development - crown research institutes and industry organisations - are evolving into commercially driven businesses.
Some are dragging their feet but others, such as Industrial Research Ltd and the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand, are moving fast to diversify their revenues and their client base.
Wronz, based at Lincoln University, is moving to a three-source funding base: $5 million from levies on wool growers, $4 million from the Government and $6 million from the private sector.
Through its subsidiary Wronz Developments it is commercialising a number of pieces of equipment it has developed for wool users.
To get closer to major textile and carpet makers using NZ wool it opened a European laboratory two years ago.
"Our whole philosophy is that small is the key," says Wronz managing director Garth Carnaby.
"If we can increase the efficiency of our industry in whatever way, however low brow, it will thrive and the economy will prosper."
Wronz is also marketing the contract research skills of its 150 staff to a wider industrial base through a new subsidiary called LincLab.
Researchers move with the times
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