Auckland Mayor Takes Tech And Innovation To The Next Level
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is establishing a new Innovation & Technology Alliance, bringing together the public and private sectors to attract capital and boost productivity.
The Auckland Innovation & Technology Alliance ('the Alliance') will provide strategic leadership, encourage coordination, and drive deal-making and investment to strengthen Auckland's position as a globally competitive tech and innovation hub. It builds on the work championed by the Committee for Auckland, the Tech Council, and the council group.
In a first for New Zealand, the mayor will bring together leaders from business, investment, research, and central and local government into a formal Alliance to align efforts and accelerate innovation outcomes.
The alliance will collaborate to develop a Regional Innovation Strategy for Auckland in partnership with central government. The focus will be on growing Auckland's technology sector and on growing the national economy.
The Mayor is also calling on the government to establish the new Advanced Technology Institute in Auckland. The institute could play a crucial role in guiding new start-ups through the system, so ideas don't 'die on the vine'.
Mayor Brown made the announcement at the Auckland Innovation Forum he has led as part of TechWeek'25.
The announcement follows the release of his new manifesto for growth, of which innovation and technology is a central focus.
The Mayor says today was about providing leadership to take the sector to the next level.
'Silicon Valley has concentrated huge technological skills to produce mostly trivia and entertainment. I've told industry leaders today that I want our tech brains to produce meaningful, profitable applications that lift our city and country's already great advantages in food tech, medtech, biotech, and fintech. I will be working alongside these people to bring the public and private sectors together.'
GROWTH
He says growth opportunities from a healthy ecosystem of innovation can no longer be ignored.
'Auckland's stagnant growth here will not be easy to change; productivity has been persistently low for a long time, and I'm aware others have tried and failed to fix this. But our recent recession and opportunities in waiting in this sector mean there's too much to lose to leave it as is.'
'I believe uniting the tech sector in Auckland into a cohesive machine of production for tomorrow's ideas will open our national economy to a substantial amount of capital.'
NEW LEADERSHIP
Mayor Brown says the alliance will bring a joined-up approach from industry to provide leadership and inform a regional strategy, while the institute will guide new start-ups through the system.
'The structure will put industry expertise closer to decision-making and better support startups on a pathway from idea to market.
'I want us to be early adopters of new technology. I want to set up an ecology of innovation here to shape our future Auckland, and New Zealand.'
WHY AUCKLAND?
He reiterates that Auckland is best placed to be New Zealand's premier tech city.
'Right now, growth is more city to city than country to country. Auckland— being New Zealand's tech city and economic powerhouse of the country— is the key to unlocking nationwide growth. There is great opportunity for central government in this.'
'Kiwis make good deals, and we've done well overseas. Let's open Auckland up so our kids don't have to leave New Zealand to take advantage of growth elsewhere.'
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