New Advanced Tech Institute Backs Science Sector
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced the establishment of a new institute to grow New Zealand's advanced technology sector and boost high-value exports.
Minister Reti says the new public research organisation, to be named the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT), will play a leading role in turning world-class science into commercial success.
'The Institute will focus on breakthrough technologies like AI, quantum computing, and synthetic biology – fields with the potential to transform industries, grow exports, and lift New Zealand's global competitiveness,' Dr Reti says.
'It will be a cornerstone of our plan to grow a high-tech, high-value economy.'
The Government has committed an initial $231 million over four years to:
Invest in science and technology that supports industries with the potential to shape New Zealand's future
Develop skills and grow expertise in new and promising technologies
Help boost New Zealand's economy by innovating and commercialising new technologies into real-world businesses and products.
The Institute is intended to have a central base in Auckland, as an existing centre of innovation, and will invest in a broad network of smaller centres to conduct research in collaboration with universities, industry, and existing research institutions.
The first major investment, announced in May, is based at Wellington's Robinson Research Institute, specialising in Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies.
Additional investments will be confirmed following advice from the Prime Minister's Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council, which will meet for the first time today.
'New Zealand has made significant investments in areas of existing strength, like agri-tech, resulting in our global reputation for cutting-edge agricultural science,' says Dr Reti.
'This new Institute, supported by strategic advice from the Prime Minister's Advisory Council, will build on existing strengths and capabilities, and break into new technologies to grow our global reputation as a centre of innovation.
'This is about delivering long-term value for New Zealanders – transforming research into growth, jobs, and global impact,' Dr Reti says.
Notes
The Institute will initially be incubated within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) before becoming an independent entity when legislation comes into effect in July 2026.
Key innovation programmes will transfer to the new Institute from Callaghan Innovation, including the Technology Incubator scheme, New Zealand Product Accelerator, and HealthTech Activator.
The new Institute joins three other public research organisations launched on 1 July:
Earth Sciences New Zealand, to be based in Wellington
Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, to be based in Wellington
Bioeconomy Science Institute, to be based in Lincoln.
These Institutes will continue to have a strong presence across the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Opinion: vocational pathway just as important
The return of local decision-making to Otago Polytechnic took a big step forward last week. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds delivered her much anticipated dismantling of the failed Te Pukenga centralised model. While Otago has not quite made the grade as a fully autonomous entity just yet, it is to have its own board of local education and industry experts to guide course delivery in tune with Otago skills needs. Once back on financial solid ground, it will become fully autonomous. As a long-standing advocate for Telford, in Balclutha, New Zealand's only remaining residential agricultural training facility, I was delighted to hear Ms Simmonds confirm her commitment to its future. From New Zealand First's perspective, vocational education has long been marginalised as an educational pathway. The entire school system is geared towards an academic pathway, with university entrance the ultimate outcome incentivised. It is the metric schools measure and promote themselves with. This is despite only 30% of students going on to study at university. This is not to dismiss the importance of university education, of particular importance to Dunedin given the University of Otago is such a foundation stone of our city. These reforms are to acknowledge that for the majority of high school graduates, it is not a pathway they ultimately choose. It is critical they have a modern, fit-for-purpose and financially viable vocational training pathway to allow these students, and workers looking to retrain, to get into the trades and service industries. New Zealand needs builders, plumbers, nurses, chefs and electricians just as much as we need university-trained doctors and economists, for example. The list of skills deemed worthy of being prioritised through our immigration system is an indictment on our vocational training performance as a country — especially so at a time when 160,000 New Zealanders are on the jobseeker benefit. We are designing a polytechnic model that prioritises regionally relevant skills training and a pathway to jobs that are in demand. They will be codesigned alongside employers to make sure the qualifications are relevant and fit for purpose. New Zealand is relying on it.
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
NZers are not getting a 'raw deal' on butter, says Nicola Willis
The Finance Minister does not believe New Zealanders are getting a "raw deal" on butter, but has accepted there is no getting away from how expensive it is right now. Nicola Willis met with Fonterra's chief executive Miles Hurrell at Parliament on Tuesday evening. While the two meet regularly, there was increased interest in the meeting due to the current price of butter. Willis had earlier said it was something she would discuss with Hurrell. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the price of butter will be discussed at her meeting with the giant co-op. (Source: 1News) Characterising the meeting as "constructive and engaging," Willis said Hurrell was candid about the way butter was priced in New Zealand. ADVERTISEMENT Her summary of her meeting with Fonterra largely zeroed in on her drive to increase supermarket competition. The large proportion of what people pay for butter is dictated by global demand, which is something the government could not control. "Were that price to come down, you would expect that to be reflected in the prices that New Zealand shoppers pay," Willis said. Hurrell had told her that butter had once been the hardest product for Fonterra to sell globally, but the increasing demand was due to reporting on its health benefits. "It was once viewed as a bogeyman," she said. The meeting had reinforced Willis' interest in increasing supermarket competition to put downward pressure on the price of butter. "All roads lead back to supermarket competition. I continue to believe that is the most powerful lever that the government has on this issue. We will never be able to control global dairy prices. What we can influence is the amount of competition in New Zealand's grocery sector and we have a lot of work underway to address that." ADVERTISEMENT Fonterra had also observed the supermarket competition. Finance Minister Nicola Willis does not believe New Zealanders are getting a "raw deal" on butter. (Source: "Miles specifically conveyed that Fonterra operates in a number of markets around the world, most of which have a more competitive supermarket sector, and that it does feel different in New Zealand." She would leave it to supermarkets and Fonterra to argue who was charging what margin. "The sense that I got from my engagement with Miles is that it's a constant battle between them. Each party are probably going to point fingers at the other." Hurrell would not answer questions when RNZ approached him outside Parliament on Tuesday night, but a Fonterra spokesperson said the meeting was "constructive". Willis said she had encouraged Hurrell to front, in particular to explain what proportion of the margins go to Fonterra and what goes to supermarkets. ADVERTISEMENT Acknowledging that Fonterra's job was to get the best possible price for its shareholders, Willis also accepted New Zealanders saw the downsides of that when they were shopping. "I've been satisfied that I don't think consumers are getting a raw deal. I think that there is good work going on to ensure that there is pressure and competition from Fonterra to try and keep its prices low. But I get it. Butter is expensive right now. There's no getting away from that."
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
'Butter Is Expensive Right Now. There's No Getting Away From That' - Finance Minister Nicola Willis
The Finance Minister does not believe New Zealanders are getting a "raw deal" on butter, but has accepted there is no getting away from how expensive it is right now. Nicola Willis met with Fonterra's chief executive Miles Hurrell at Parliament on Tuesday evening. While the two meet regularly, there was increased interest in the meeting due to the current price of butter. Willis had earlier said it was something she would discuss with Hurrell. Characterising the meeting as "constructive and engaging," Willis said Hurrell was candid about the way butter was priced in New Zealand. Her summarisation of her meeting with Fonterra largely zeroed in on her drive to increase supermarket competition. The large proportion of what people pay for butter is dictated by global demand, which is something the government could not control. "Were that price to come down, you would expect that to be reflected in the prices that New Zealand shoppers pay," Willis said. Hurrell had told her that butter had once been the hardest product for Fonterra to sell globally, but the increasing demand was due to reporting on its health benefits. "It was once viewed as a bogeyman," she said. The meeting had reinforced Willis' interest in increasing supermarket competition to put downward pressure on the price of butter. "All roads lead back to supermarket competition. I continue to believe that is the most powerful lever that the government has on this issue. We will never be able to control global dairy prices. What we can influence is the amount of competition in New Zealand's grocery sector and we have a lot of work underway to address that." Fonterra had also observed the supermarket competition. "Miles specifically conveyed that Fonterra operates in a number of markets around the world, most of which have a more competitive supermarket sector, and that it does feel different in New Zealand." She would leave it to supermarkets and Fonterra to argue who was charging what margin. "The sense that I got from my engagement with Miles is that it's a constant battle between them. Each party are probably going to point fingers at the other." Hurrell would not answer questions when RNZ approached him outside Parliament on Tuesday night, but a Fonterra spokesperson said the meeting was "constructive". Willis said she had encouraged Hurrell to front, in particular to explain what proportion of the margins go to Fonterra and what goes to supermarkets. Acknowledging that Fonterra's job was to get the best possible price for its shareholders, Willis also accepted New Zealanders saw the downsides of that when they were shopping. "I've been satisfied that I don't think consumers are getting a raw deal. I think that there is good work going on to ensure that there is pressure and competition from Fonterra to try and keep its prices low. But I get it. Butter is expensive right now. There's no getting away from that."
