Latest news with #KiwiNetResearchCommercialisationAwards
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Quick draw for cleaner needles
A holster worn on the hip which sterilises needles each time a farmer vaccinates cattle is the idea of a University of Canterbury student wanting to launch it after winding up her studies. Jade Luxton's Steerineedle holster cleans needles to reduce animal infections, lowers vet costs and can shave two and a-half hours off vaccinating a 300-strong herd. Using the sterilising method while vaccinating cattle or using anesthetic to remove velvet from deer takes just a few seconds. The third-year product design student got the idea for her sterilising holster as a schoolgirl. "It actually started in high school when we were challenged to save a real-world problem in the agricultural industry. One of our friend's granddads came to us who was a deer farmer and said he was so sick of constantly changing needles between each of his deer during velveting season. So we looked further into this problem and found needles could be sterilised." Then she got the idea of using a hip holster to speed up the process. She said farmers would no longer have to change needles between each animal or worry about passing on diseases or causing abscesses from infected needles. More than 8000 livestock are estimated to die each year from infections caused largely by unclean needles, costing the industry $12 million. About 85% of farmers do not change needles between animals and 80% of abscesses are linked to dirty needles. Abscesses can result in the costly rejection of animals at meat works. Miss Luxton, 20, said the holster was made of plastic at this stage, but the design was still under product development. An antiseptic solution at the bottom of the holster sterilised the needles. "The farmers just have to dip it in and it will take a second for the needle to be cleaned. It speeds up the time during livestock vaccinating. Changing a needle can take about 30 seconds, but using Steerineedle takes only two seconds. It reduces the disease transmitted on the needle and obviously saves costs in time when it comes to needle changes. You don't have to buy as many needles and you don't have to change as many needles." A veterinarian callout for treating an abscess could cost about $500, so clean needles reduced costs, she said. She said the design had been improved with a larger holster to prevent any chance of a farmer jabbing a needle into his hip. Anti-spill mechanisms were added to contain the sterilising solution with the goal to have enough solution in a holster to last a day. Raised on family farms in Waikato, Miss Luxton has grown up raising calves and carrying out farming duties. Farmers hearing about the holster design have already contacted her to buy them and she has received interest from companies. The Steerineedle design was highly commended in the youth category of the innovation awards at the national Fieldays. Now she has been named among two other finalists in the Momentum Student Entrepreneur category of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards with the winners to be announced in Auckland on October 22. Miss Luxton said she was still coming to terms with how far the product had come from a high school idea. "I was in a business accelerator programme at uni and love the idea of being an entrepreneur and really want to start my own business and start selling the product. Hopefully I can start manufacturing at the end of this year and then launch early next year." One of her main drives was to improve the welfare of animals, she said. The other category finalists are fellow University of Canterbury student Emmalee Abbot Joe who has developed Froth dissolvable haircare tablets for travelling and University of Otago student Josiah Bugden who is helping students make study decisions with his Coursespy platform.
Scoop
08-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 KiwiNet Awards Finalists: Groundbreaking Research Commercialisation Turning Science Into Global Impact
This year's 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards celebrate 18 exceptional finalists leading the charge in turning bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs. These pioneers are translating cutting-edge research from universities, Crown Research Institutes, and research organisations into powerful technologies, thriving businesses, and tangible economic benefits for Aotearoa and beyond. The KiwiNet Awards shine a spotlight on NewZealand's deep tech talent - research entrepreneurs, innovators, and commercialisation professionals. This year's diverse finalists include innovations such as a portable stroke detection device, a biological forecasting platform for marine farmers, sustainable haircare tablets, a university course guidance platform, space technology, skin cancer diagnostics technology, and plant and food breakthroughs ranging from hops to potatoes. Other highlights include marine biofuel, clean-tech innovations, animal vaccination technologies, a breakthrough drug for depression and anxiety, decarbonised metal refining, wearable health tech, and CAR-T therapy breakthroughs for cancer treatment. KiwiNet CEO Dr James Hutchinson says, 'These finalists represent the cutting edge of innovation, turning world-class science into high-value, high-growth ventures with real impact for New Zealand. From pioneering medical treatments to clean tech, sustainable food production and space innovation, they show how science can tackle real-world challenges — growing our economy, boosting productivity, and doing good in our communities. The KiwiNet Awards highlight the powerful returns delivered by research commercialisation, with every $1 invested in PreSeed Accelerator Funding generating $13 in economic value for Aotearoa.' The 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalists are: Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award Breakthrough Innovator Award Dr François-Xavier Collard – Scion, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Pioneering biofuel for a greener maritime future Dr Patricia Rubio-Reyes – Malaghan Institute of Medical Research: Improving cell therapy control to fight cancer Dr Ben Mallett – The MacDiarmid Institute, Wellington UniVentures, Paihau Robinson Research Institute: Propelling New Zealand to the frontiers of deep space BNZ Researcher Entrepreneur Award KCA Commercialisation Professional Award Sue Muggleston – Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: A legacy of IP excellence and growing future leaders Arron Judson – Symply/ New Zealand College of Chiropractic: Building capability, not just companies Amanda Davies: Scion, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Forging pathways to turn science into impact PwC Breakthrough Project Award Wellumio – Wellington UniVentures: Lifesaving stroke imaging when every second counts CAR-T Therapy – Malaghan Institute of Medical Research: Engineering the future of cancer care in New Zealand Ocean Intelligence – Cawthron Institute: Forecasting the future of marine farming AJ Park Commercialisation Impact Award Zincovery and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury: Leading the future of clean metal refining Potato Innovation 'Crop 78' – Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: A sustainable French fry future Nectaron® and Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Next-generation flavours brewing global success KiwiNet Awards judge Greg Sitters says, 'This year's finalists stood out for their diversity, sharper commercial focus, and growing awareness of how their science can tackle global challenges while delivering tangible benefits for NewZealand. It's exciting to see this shift, as it reflects the increasing maturity and diversity of our research commercialisation ecosystem, which will continue to offer vital expertise to support researchers to deliver outputs through the Awards process and beyond. Collaboration remains the ecosystem's greatest strength - but to fully unlock the economic and societal potential of research innovation and contribute meaningfully to NewZealand's growth agenda, further investment is essential.' The 2025 KiwiNet Awards judging panel comprises Greg Sitters - Managing Partner at Matū Group; Melissa Yiannoutsos - Innovation Fund Manager, Booster NZ; Nadine Williams - CE & Founder, Instinct Lab NZ; David Beard - Partner at Movac; Adiraj Gupta - Entrepreneur & Founder, Sendd. Nic Blakeley, Deputy Secretary Labour, Science, and Enterprise at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, says, 'The KiwiNet Awards finalists are a powerful reminder of how research commercialisation drives real-world impact. Their success highlights the critical role of science-industry partnerships in growing our economy.' The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) is a consortium of universities, Crown Research Institutes, an Independent Research Organisation and a Crown Entity established to boost commercial outcomes from publicly funded research by helping to transform scientific discoveries into new products and services. The 2025 KiwiNet Awards are supported by MBIE, PwC NZ, Sprout Agritech, BNZ, KCA, Campus Plus and AJ Park, as well as Return On Science, Momentum, and the sponsors of the Momentum Student Entrepreneur award, Icehouse Ventures, Angel Association and Emerge. This year, the KiwiNet Awards will be held alongside the inaugural Auckland Startup Week, which will shine a spotlight on the people, ideas and companies building New Zealand's global reputation for innovation. KiwiNet Awards winners for 2025 will be announced at an evening reception on 22 October.
Otago Daily Times
07-08-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Medical researcher up for award
The researcher behind a slow-release ketamine tablet, developed to treat people with treatment-resistant depression, has been named a finalist in the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards. University of Otago Hazel Buckland chair in psychological medicine Prof Paul Glue is up for the BNZ Researcher Entrepreneur Award for his pioneering research. The awards honour those who bridge the gap between research and business, transforming scientific discoveries into real-world solutions that create lasting benefit for New Zealanders. "I'm absolutely blown away by this," Prof Glue said. "Since this project started, it's taken on a whole new life of its own." For nearly a decade, he has been working on the medication, which is now about to undergo Food and Drug Administration approval, with the aim of getting it on the market within the next three years. He said the new medication was working well for patients and almost everyone who took it during trials decided they wanted to stay on it. While he was delighted to be named a finalist in the awards, Prof Glue said the biggest reward was that it was changing people's lives. "The contrast between what their pattern of illness was like before, versus being on this drug and basically being well, has been striking — life-changing for them." Most people who have treatment-resistant depression are destined to be stuck at home, unable to work, continually dealing with relationship problems — a place far from a normal life, he said. "The stats show that about one in five women, and one in 10 men in New Zealand will have an episode of depression, and about a third of the patients won't respond to conventional treatments. "They're functionally impaired. It's a big population, and at the moment, we as a health system do not have an effective line of treatment for this big population." Doctors usually used the anaesthetic drug as an effective means of sedation and pain relief, but ketamine was also given to patients with treatment-resistant depression, via injection or nasal spray. Unfortunately, it had major side effects in this form, he said. "It can make patients feel very spaced out, very sleepy. They can't walk for about half an hour. "That's why you have to have it in a clinic. "It's quite a burden on resources for patients and the health system." However, Prof Glue's slow-release ketamine tablets were absorbed by the body over about 10 hours and had few side effects. Because of that, it reduced the risk of abuse by drug users. It meant the tablets could be picked up from a pharmacy on prescription, potentially making treatment a much cheaper and more convenient option, compared with weekly clinic visits for ketamine injections or nasal sprays, he said. KiwiNet chief executive Dr James Hutchinson said the finalists represented the "cutting edge of innovation", turning world-class science into high-value, high-growth ventures with real impact for New Zealand. "From pioneering medical treatments to clean tech, sustainable food production and space innovation, they show how science can tackle real-world challenges — growing our economy, boosting productivity, and doing good in our communities." The winners of the KiwiNet Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on October 22.
Scoop
07-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 KiwiNet Awards Finalists: Groundbreaking Research Commercialisation Turning Science Into Global Impact
Press Release – KiwiNet The KiwiNet Awards shine a spotlight on NewZealands deep tech talent – research entrepreneurs, innovators, and commercialisation professionals. This year's 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards celebrate 18 exceptional finalists leading the charge in turning bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs. These pioneers are translating cutting-edge research from universities, Crown Research Institutes, and research organisations into powerful technologies, thriving businesses, and tangible economic benefits for Aotearoa and beyond. The KiwiNet Awards shine a spotlight on NewZealand's deep tech talent – research entrepreneurs, innovators, and commercialisation professionals. This year's diverse finalists include innovations such as a portable stroke detection device, a biological forecasting platform for marine farmers, sustainable haircare tablets, a university course guidance platform, space technology, skin cancer diagnostics technology, and plant and food breakthroughs ranging from hops to potatoes. Other highlights include marine biofuel, clean-tech innovations, animal vaccination technologies, a breakthrough drug for depression and anxiety, decarbonised metal refining, wearable health tech, and CAR-T therapy breakthroughs for cancer treatment. KiwiNet CEO Dr James Hutchinson says, 'These finalists represent the cutting edge of innovation, turning world-class science into high-value, high-growth ventures with real impact for New Zealand. From pioneering medical treatments to clean tech, sustainable food production and space innovation, they show how science can tackle real-world challenges — growing our economy, boosting productivity, and doing good in our communities. The KiwiNet Awards highlight the powerful returns delivered by research commercialisation, with every $1 invested in PreSeed Accelerator Funding generating $13 in economic value for Aotearoa.' The 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards finalists are: Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award Emmalee Abbott Joe – FROTH/ Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury: Making travel more sustainable, one haircare tablet at a time Josiah Bugden – CourseSpy/ University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka: Creating transparency in higher education Jade Luxton – Steerineedle/ Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury: The holster revolutionising livestock vaccinations Breakthrough Innovator Award Dr François-Xavier Collard – Scion, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Pioneering biofuel for a greener maritime future Dr Patricia Rubio-Reyes – Malaghan Institute of Medical Research: Improving cell therapy control to fight cancer Dr Ben Mallett – The MacDiarmid Institute, Wellington UniVentures, Paihau Robinson Research Institute: Propelling New Zealand to the frontiers of deep space BNZ Researcher Entrepreneur Award Professor Paul Glue – University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka: Pioneering impact for mental health Dr Michel Nieuwoudt – Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland/ Luminoma Ltd: Making light work of hard problems Professor Aaron Marshall – Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury/ MacDiarmid Institute: An inspiring visionary in clean-tech innovation KCA Commercialisation Professional Award Sue Muggleston – Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: A legacy of IP excellence and growing future leaders Arron Judson – Symply/ New Zealand College of Chiropractic: Building capability, not just companies Amanda Davies: Scion, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Forging pathways to turn science into impact PwC Breakthrough Project Award Wellumio – Wellington UniVentures: Lifesaving stroke imaging when every second counts CAR-T Therapy – Malaghan Institute of Medical Research: Engineering the future of cancer care in New Zealand Ocean Intelligence – Cawthron Institute: Forecasting the future of marine farming AJ Park Commercialisation Impact Award Zincovery and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury: Leading the future of clean metal refining Potato Innovation 'Crop 78' – Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: A sustainable French fry future Nectaron® and Plant & Food Research, a group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute: Next-generation flavours brewing global success KiwiNet Awards judge Greg Sitters says, 'This year's finalists stood out for their diversity, sharper commercial focus, and growing awareness of how their science can tackle global challenges while delivering tangible benefits for NewZealand. It's exciting to see this shift, as it reflects the increasing maturity and diversity of our research commercialisation ecosystem, which will continue to offer vital expertise to support researchers to deliver outputs through the Awards process and beyond. Collaboration remains the ecosystem's greatest strength – but to fully unlock the economic and societal potential of research innovation and contribute meaningfully to NewZealand's growth agenda, further investment is essential.' The 2025 KiwiNet Awards judging panel comprises Greg Sitters – Managing Partner at Matū Group; Melissa Yiannoutsos – Innovation Fund Manager, Booster NZ; Nadine Williams – CE & Founder, Instinct Lab NZ; David Beard – Partner at Movac; Adiraj Gupta – Entrepreneur & Founder, Sendd. Nic Blakeley, Deputy Secretary Labour, Science, and Enterprise at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, says, 'The KiwiNet Awards finalists are a powerful reminder of how research commercialisation drives real-world impact. Their success highlights the critical role of science-industry partnerships in growing our economy.' The Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) is a consortium of universities, Crown Research Institutes, an Independent Research Organisation and a Crown Entity established to boost commercial outcomes from publicly funded research by helping to transform scientific discoveries into new products and services. The 2025 KiwiNet Awards are supported by MBIE, PwC NZ, Sprout Agritech, BNZ, KCA, Campus Plus and AJ Park, as well as Return On Science, Momentum, and the sponsors of the Momentum Student Entrepreneur award, Icehouse Ventures, Angel Association and Emerge. This year, the KiwiNet Awards will be held alongside the inaugural Auckland Startup Week, which will shine a spotlight on the people, ideas and companies building New Zealand's global reputation for innovation. KiwiNet Awards winners for 2025 will be announced at an evening reception on 22 October.
Otago Daily Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Platform guides course decisions
It is hard to fathom how he does it. Final-year University of Otago medical student Josiah Bugden has somehow also found time to establish a rapidly growing platform to help students navigate university life with confidence. Mr Bugden (25) is a finalist in the Momentum student entrepreneur category in the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards for CourseSpy, which is about creating transparency in higher education. What started as a side project has evolved into a platform with more than 250,000 visits, which helps students make better and more informed decisions about their tertiary study. CourseSpy was born of Mr Bugden's own frustrations as a student. Prior to embarking on his medical studies, he did a science degree. He said while there were some necessary papers, it required having to "build your degree" and he found it tricky figuring out which papers to take. All he had to go off was the paper title and maybe a couple of sentences, yet there were so many options available, he said. In his hall of residence, friends would pass around Google documents, sharing course advice, and it got him thinking — and tinkering. Teaching himself to code, he built a basic website for students to leave course reviews and also tips and tricks and discovered people liked it. While the website was very unpolished, he saw how students were using it and decided it might be worth putting in more effort and seeing if he could expand the offering and make a viable business. Over last year, he became involved with Startup Dunedin and the Audacious business challenge and Momentum, the national student-led investment committee programme. That provided him with advice on how to take the "next steps" and included getting a team around him, which included his brother Sam, to work on it. What the team wanted to create was a one-stop hub for students to get course advice and it had evolved to be more than a review site, he said. It allowed students to plan their degrees, calculate entrance scores, manage timetables, choose accommodation and access curated study resources. CourseSpy now hosted more than 15,000 course reviews across all eight New Zealand universities and had had about 250,000 page visits, he said. In a recent user survey, the overwhelming majority of student users reported they had changed their future course selections based on insights gained through the platform. In the past year, CourseSpy had also launched Mastery Modules — interactive, adaptive question banks designed to guide students through each lecture and improve their long-term retention and grades. Those modules were built by a team of tutors and high-achieving students to ensure high-quality, course-specific learning support. Mr Bugden said his goal was to continue the rapid growth of CourseSpy by adding tutors and textbooks and further developing Mastery Modules for CourseSpy's proprietary learning platform while looking to expand overseas soon. He acknowledged the juggle between his medical studies and CourseSpy had been "tricky" to manage but said he had enjoyed learning about business and having a great team around him had been pivotal. He now wanted to involve more people in the project to ensure it was sustainable into the future. He was passionate about medicine and was looking forward to working as a doctor next year and it was likely he would take on more of a consulting role with CourseSpy. The winners will be announced at a function in Auckland on October 22.
