Article

KiwiNet Awards 2013

The first KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards (KiwiNet Awards) were held in 2013. The awards celebrate the achievement of individuals, teams and organisations who are involved in commercialising publicly funded research in New Zealand.

In this article, you can read about the winners and finalists in each awards category. Click the video thumbnail to view a short clip and detailed abstract for each winner and finalist.

Commercialisation Collaboration Award

According to the kiwinet.org.nz website, the Commercialisation Collaboration Award “recognises the outstanding new collaborations formed between multiple research organisations working together to build national scale around a technology platform or address a business need”.

Callaghan Innovation was the winner in this award category for its part in Ovine Automation Ltd, a research-industry collaboration that is developing new robotics approaches to meat processing. The other finalists were Aldera Health, for developing an animal and plant research ‘corridor’ in New Zealand, and Plant & Food Research, who worked with AgResearch to establish Land Use Change and Intensification (a collaborative programme to help farmers optimise their land use).

Callaghan Innovation – Advanced Sonar Technology

A New Zealand collaboration has developed an advanced sonar technology that is making waves in commercial fishing worldwide. Callaghan Innovation and Electronic Navigation Ltd (ENL) partnered to strengthen the research and development efforts of ENL, and the result was the Wide Angle Sonar Seafloor Profiler (WASSP). In this video clip, Jonathan Miller (Callaghan Innovation) and Gareth Hodson (Chief Executive, ENL) explain how WASSP works, why it has been so commercially successful and why the Callaghan Innovation-ENL collaboration works so well for both partners.

Key question
Why is sonar scanning important in commercial fishing?

Teaching point
Students can learn more about the technology behind WASSP by visiting the website: www.wassp.com.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Callaghan Innovation – Advanced Sonar Technology

A New Zealand collaboration has developed an advanced sonar technology that is making waves in commercial fishing worldwide. Callaghan Innovation and Electronic Navigation Ltd (ENL) partnered to strengthen the research and development efforts of ENL, and the result was the Wide Angle Sonar Seafloor Profiler (WASSP). In this video clip, Jonathan Miller (Callaghan Innovation) and Gareth Hodson (Chief Executive, ENL) explain how WASSP works, why it has been so commercially successful and why the Callaghan Innovation-ENL collaboration works so well for both partners.

Key question
Why is sonar scanning important in commercial fishing?

Teaching point
Students can learn more about the technology behind WASSP by visiting the website: www.wassp.com.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

WaikatoLink – Aldera Animal Health

Aldera Animal Health is a start-up company that aims to address key animal and plant health problems worldwide. The company’s vision is to bring together the collective expertise of New Zealand’s research community to develop new solutions for prominent animal diseases – such as skin conditions, inflammatory conditions and obesity.

In this video clip, Duncan Mackintosh and Bill te Brake (founders, Aldera) explain their vision for Aldera and describe how the company is forging collaborations between research organisations in New Zealand and overseas. Duncan also emphasises the interconnectedness of animal and human health, describing how solutions for animal disease can have a positive impact on humans’ lives.

Jargon alert
‘Corridor’ is used in this clip to mean a research hub or a group of research organisations brought together with a common goal.

Teaching point
Students could learn more about the One Health Initiative (referred to by Duncan Mackintosh) by visiting the Initiative’s website: www.onehealthinitiative.com/index.php

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

WaikatoLink – Aldera Animal Health

Aldera Animal Health is a start-up company that aims to address key animal and plant health problems worldwide. The company’s vision is to bring together the collective expertise of New Zealand’s research community to develop new solutions for prominent animal diseases – such as skin conditions, inflammatory conditions and obesity.

In this video clip, Duncan Mackintosh and Bill te Brake (founders, Aldera) explain their vision for Aldera and describe how the company is forging collaborations between research organisations in New Zealand and overseas. Duncan also emphasises the interconnectedness of animal and human health, describing how solutions for animal disease can have a positive impact on humans’ lives.

Jargon alert
‘Corridor’ is used in this clip to mean a research hub or a group of research organisations brought together with a common goal.

Teaching point
Students could learn more about the One Health Initiative (referred to by Duncan Mackintosh) by visiting the Initiative’s website: www.onehealthinitiative.com/index.php

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

PFR – Land Use Change and Intensification

Land Use Change and Intensification (LUCI) is a programme being run collaboratively by Plant & Food Research and AgResearch. It helps farmers to increase production from their land in an environmentally sustainable way. In this video clip, Dr Valerie Snow (AgResearch) and Dr Mike Beare (Plant & Food Research) describe how LUCI has helped to develop tools with a range of uses – from managing irrigation to forecasting how much fertiliser a particular farm will need.

Point of interest
Listen out for the percentage of New Zealand wheat farmers who are thought to be benefiting from LUCI’s tools.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

PFR – Land Use Change and Intensification

Land Use Change and Intensification (LUCI) is a programme being run collaboratively by Plant & Food Research and AgResearch. It helps farmers to increase production from their land in an environmentally sustainable way. In this video clip, Dr Valerie Snow (AgResearch) and Dr Mike Beare (Plant & Food Research) describe how LUCI has helped to develop tools with a range of uses – from managing irrigation to forecasting how much fertiliser a particular farm will need.

Point of interest
Listen out for the percentage of New Zealand wheat farmers who are thought to be benefiting from LUCI’s tools.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Researcher Entrepreneur Award

This award celebrates individual researchers who have either created innovative businesses or contributed strongly to business innovation.

The winners of the Researcher Entrepreneur Award were Professors Grant Covic and John Boyes (University of Auckland). Grant and John are pioneers in wireless power transfer – an innovative technology that has received considerable interest from car manufacturers and others worldwide.

The other finalists in this category were Dr John Abrahamson (ArcActive), for improving the stop/start profile of existing lead acid batteries, and Professors Bill Wilson and Bill Denny (Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre), for the Centre’s strong record in developing anticancer compounds to clinical trial stage.

Professors Covic and Boys – Inductive Power Transfer

Professors Grant Covic and John Boys (University of Auckland) are pioneers in wireless power transfer – the high-efficiency transfer of electricity across large air gaps. The technology’s applications are diverse, from charging electric vehicles wirelessly to powering portable devices on the move.

In this video clip, Grant and John describe how, in the technology’s early days, it was almost impossible to convince anyone to fund the research. Now, though, the situation couldn’t be more different – the technology is licensed by seven companies worldwide, there are nearly 30 doctoral students at the University of Auckland working on inductive power transfer and car manufacturers are eager to incorporate the technology in their vehicles.

Points of interest

  • How do the model systems shown in the video indicate that wireless power transfer has occurred?

  • Which factors might have contributed to the change of interest in the technology?

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Professors Covic and Boys – Inductive Power Transfer

Professors Grant Covic and John Boys (University of Auckland) are pioneers in wireless power transfer – the high-efficiency transfer of electricity across large air gaps. The technology’s applications are diverse, from charging electric vehicles wirelessly to powering portable devices on the move.

In this video clip, Grant and John describe how, in the technology’s early days, it was almost impossible to convince anyone to fund the research. Now, though, the situation couldn’t be more different – the technology is licensed by seven companies worldwide, there are nearly 30 doctoral students at the University of Auckland working on inductive power transfer and car manufacturers are eager to incorporate the technology in their vehicles.

Points of interest

  • How do the model systems shown in the video indicate that wireless power transfer has occurred?

  • Which factors might have contributed to the change of interest in the technology?

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

ArcActive – Hybrid Battery Innovation

Stop-start cars – whose engines stop instead of idling then start again to drive on – have much higher fuel efficiency than conventional cars. However, the lead acid ‘starter battery’ used in most cars doesn’t charge rapidly enough for a stop-start engine. In this video clip, Dr John Abrahamson (ArcActive) explains the company’s innovative approach to this problem. By adding new material to old lead acid batteries, the batteries can be made to work in stop-start engines. Nigel Johnson (University of Canterbury) gives an overview of the commercialisation process for ArcActive’s technology.

Teaching point
Students can learn more about ArcActive’s technology by visiting the ArcActive website: www.arcactive.com

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

ArcActive – Hybrid Battery Innovation

Stop-start cars – whose engines stop instead of idling then start again to drive on – have much higher fuel efficiency than conventional cars. However, the lead acid ‘starter battery’ used in most cars doesn’t charge rapidly enough for a stop-start engine. In this video clip, Dr John Abrahamson (ArcActive) explains the company’s innovative approach to this problem. By adding new material to old lead acid batteries, the batteries can be made to work in stop-start engines. Nigel Johnson (University of Canterbury) gives an overview of the commercialisation process for ArcActive’s technology.

Teaching point
Students can learn more about ArcActive’s technology by visiting the ArcActive website: www.arcactive.com

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Professors Bill Wilson and Bill Denny

The Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre (ACSRC) develops novel anticancer drugs. Many of the Centre’s compounds have been brought to clinical trial stage, making it one of the most productive units in the world for anticancer therapeutics. In this video clip, Professors Bill Denny and Bill Wilson (Directors, ACSRC) describe the Centre’s approach to drug development. They discuss their decision to form a company (Proacta) to work with the intellectual property of ACSRC and talk about the process of obtaining investment for Proacta.

Teaching point
Students can learn more about how anticancer drugs are developed on the Maurice Wilkins Centre website.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Professors Bill Wilson and Bill Denny

The Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre (ACSRC) develops novel anticancer drugs. Many of the Centre’s compounds have been brought to clinical trial stage, making it one of the most productive units in the world for anticancer therapeutics. In this video clip, Professors Bill Denny and Bill Wilson (Directors, ACSRC) describe the Centre’s approach to drug development. They discuss their decision to form a company (Proacta) to work with the intellectual property of ACSRC and talk about the process of obtaining investment for Proacta.

Teaching point
Students can learn more about how anticancer drugs are developed on the Maurice Wilkins Centre website.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Research and Business Partnership Award

With this award, KiwiNet recognises that a strong working relationship between business and a research organisation can be of significant commercial value to New Zealand.

The winners of the Research and Business Partnership Award were Callaghan Innovation, for their productive partnership with Electronic Navigation Ltd. The partnership has led to the development of the Wide Angle Sonar Seafloor Profiler (WASSP), an advanced sonar technology that is exported to over 30 countries worldwide.

The other finalists in this category were Auckland University of Technology (AUT), for their work with the Cloudy Bay Group to grow New Zealand’s surf clam industry, and Lincoln University, for its role in the New Zealand Seed Industry Alliance.

Callaghan Innovation – Ovine Automation Consortium

The Ovine Automation Consortium (OAL) is a unique collaboration between key players in New Zealand’s meat processing industry. It includes numerous meat companies, along with two research providers and the meat industry bodies. In this video clip, Richard McColl (Manager, OAL) and Geoff Bates (Callaghan Innovation) explain that OAL is developing robotic technologies to improve the processing of sheep carcasses and make it more efficient. They point out that it’s unique to have so many companies involved in the consortium, and emphasise the power of close collaboration between industry and research.

Teaching point
Students could identify and discuss the advantages and benefits of collaboration.

 

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Callaghan Innovation – Ovine Automation Consortium

The Ovine Automation Consortium (OAL) is a unique collaboration between key players in New Zealand’s meat processing industry. It includes numerous meat companies, along with two research providers and the meat industry bodies. In this video clip, Richard McColl (Manager, OAL) and Geoff Bates (Callaghan Innovation) explain that OAL is developing robotic technologies to improve the processing of sheep carcasses and make it more efficient. They point out that it’s unique to have so many companies involved in the consortium, and emphasise the power of close collaboration between industry and research.

Teaching point
Students could identify and discuss the advantages and benefits of collaboration.

 

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

AUT – Growing the Surf Clam Industry

At present, New Zealand’s surf clam industry is small – but a collaboration between AUT and the Cloudy Bay Group (including Cloudy Bay Clams) is looking to change that. The two organisations have been working together since 2011, looking at ways to increase the Cloudy Bay clam harvest. In this video clip, Associate Professor Lindsey White (AUT) and Luke Krieg (Manager Commercial Research, AUT) explain how they put together an interdisciplinary team of scientists at AUT to provide research support for Cloudy Bay Clams. They describe the mutual trust that has strengthened and extended the collaboration and spell out their vision for a mature surf clam industry in New Zealand.

Points of interest

  • Cloudy Bay Clams harvest five different species of surf clam from New Zealand’s coastal waters. You can read about each species on the Cloudy Bay Clams website.

  • You can learn more about how another New Zealand bivalve mollusc, the green-lipped mussel, is harvested in this article Farming green-lipped mussels.

Teaching point
Students could identify and discuss the advantages of AUT’s interdisciplinary approach. How did this strengthen the collaboration with Cloudy Bay Clams?

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

AUT – Growing the Surf Clam Industry

At present, New Zealand’s surf clam industry is small – but a collaboration between AUT and the Cloudy Bay Group (including Cloudy Bay Clams) is looking to change that. The two organisations have been working together since 2011, looking at ways to increase the Cloudy Bay clam harvest. In this video clip, Associate Professor Lindsey White (AUT) and Luke Krieg (Manager Commercial Research, AUT) explain how they put together an interdisciplinary team of scientists at AUT to provide research support for Cloudy Bay Clams. They describe the mutual trust that has strengthened and extended the collaboration and spell out their vision for a mature surf clam industry in New Zealand.

Points of interest

  • Cloudy Bay Clams harvest five different species of surf clam from New Zealand’s coastal waters. You can read about each species on the Cloudy Bay Clams website.

  • You can learn more about how another New Zealand bivalve mollusc, the green-lipped mussel, is harvested in this article Farming green-lipped mussels.

Teaching point
Students could identify and discuss the advantages of AUT’s interdisciplinary approach. How did this strengthen the collaboration with Cloudy Bay Clams?

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Lincoln University – NZ Seed Industry Alliance

The New Zealand Seed Industry Alliance is a consortium of seed researchers and industry partners. Alliance members work together to ensure the survival of New Zealand’s seed industry and to explore opportunities for increasing seed exports.

In this video clip, Professor John Hampton (Director, Bio-Protection Research Centre) and Dr Phil Rolston (Senior Scientist, AgResearch) explain that grass seed contains an endophyte fungus that is bioprotective, so it’s important that seed delivered to growers still contains the living fungus. They also describe an additional endophyte (a bacterium) that New Zealand Seed Industry Alliance partners have recently discovered. This bacterium acts as a biocontrol agent against diamondback moth.

Key questions

  • How does the newly discovered endophyte bacterium control diamondback moth populations?

  • Why might the discovery of a biocontrol agent for diamondback moth be of international importance?

Teaching points
Students can learn more about biocontrol by browsing the range of resources under the biocontrol topic.

Jargon alert
An endophyte is a bacterium or fungus that lives within a plant. Endophytes often provide benefits to the host, such as resistance to pathogens.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Lincoln University – NZ Seed Industry Alliance

The New Zealand Seed Industry Alliance is a consortium of seed researchers and industry partners. Alliance members work together to ensure the survival of New Zealand’s seed industry and to explore opportunities for increasing seed exports.

In this video clip, Professor John Hampton (Director, Bio-Protection Research Centre) and Dr Phil Rolston (Senior Scientist, AgResearch) explain that grass seed contains an endophyte fungus that is bioprotective, so it’s important that seed delivered to growers still contains the living fungus. They also describe an additional endophyte (a bacterium) that New Zealand Seed Industry Alliance partners have recently discovered. This bacterium acts as a biocontrol agent against diamondback moth.

Key questions

  • How does the newly discovered endophyte bacterium control diamondback moth populations?

  • Why might the discovery of a biocontrol agent for diamondback moth be of international importance?

Teaching points
Students can learn more about biocontrol by browsing the range of resources under the biocontrol topic.

Jargon alert
An endophyte is a bacterium or fungus that lives within a plant. Endophytes often provide benefits to the host, such as resistance to pathogens.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Commercial Deal Award

The Commercial Deal Award recognises excellence in research commercialisation.

The winner of the Commercial Deal Award was Otago Innovation, for its work to bring the National Poison Centre’s TOXINZ database to a broad international market. The other finalists in this category were Grasslanz Technology, for their innovative pasture technologies, and Aduro Biopolymers, for their commercialisation of a novel bioplastic derived from bloodmeal.

Otago Innovation – TOXINZ Database

TOXINZ is the National Poisons Centre’s database of toxic compounds. It has been developed over the past 50 years and is widely used by New Zealand clinicians. Now, with help from Otago Innovation, TOXINZ is reaching a broad international audience. In this video clip, Colin Dawson (CEO, Otago Innovation) describes the formidable track record of TOXINZ and spells out the changes that have been implemented to expand its audience. He points out that the information on TOXINZ is up to date and has saved lives and refers to positive feedback from clinicians worldwide.

Teaching point
Who might use the TOXINZ database and why? Listen out for examples given in the clip and think about other potential users.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Otago Innovation – TOXINZ Database

TOXINZ is the National Poisons Centre’s database of toxic compounds. It has been developed over the past 50 years and is widely used by New Zealand clinicians. Now, with help from Otago Innovation, TOXINZ is reaching a broad international audience. In this video clip, Colin Dawson (CEO, Otago Innovation) describes the formidable track record of TOXINZ and spells out the changes that have been implemented to expand its audience. He points out that the information on TOXINZ is up to date and has saved lives and refers to positive feedback from clinicians worldwide.

Teaching point
Who might use the TOXINZ database and why? Listen out for examples given in the clip and think about other potential users.

Rights: Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Grasslanz – Innovative Plant Technology

Grasslanz Technology develops innovative solutions to improve pasture on New Zealand farms. Traditionally, the company has focused on varieties of ryegrass, white clover and fescue that are well suited in New Zealand conditions – but recently, Grasslanz has also been actively working with endophytes that help pasture plants to survive against pests and diseases.

In this video clip, Sam Livesey (Grasslanz) and Dr John Caradus (CEO, Grasslanz) highlight a recent success for the company – a ryegrass containing an endophyte (Avanex) that repels both insects and birds. Avanex has been developed with airports in mind, and its use in land surrounding airport runways decreases bird numbers and limits the risk of bird strike.

Jargon alert
An endophyte is a bacterium or fungus that lives within a plant. Endophytes often provide benefits to the host plant, such as resistance to pathogens.

Rights:  Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

Grasslanz – Innovative Plant Technology

Grasslanz Technology develops innovative solutions to improve pasture on New Zealand farms. Traditionally, the company has focused on varieties of ryegrass, white clover and fescue that are well suited in New Zealand conditions – but recently, Grasslanz has also been actively working with endophytes that help pasture plants to survive against pests and diseases.

In this video clip, Sam Livesey (Grasslanz) and Dr John Caradus (CEO, Grasslanz) highlight a recent success for the company – a ryegrass containing an endophyte (Avanex) that repels both insects and birds. Avanex has been developed with airports in mind, and its use in land surrounding airport runways decreases bird numbers and limits the risk of bird strike.

Jargon alert
An endophyte is a bacterium or fungus that lives within a plant. Endophytes often provide benefits to the host plant, such as resistance to pathogens.

Rights:  Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

WaikatoLink and Aduro Biopolymers – Bloodmeal to Bioplastic

Aduro Biopolymers has developed Novatein – a novel bioplastic that is made from bloodmeal (a byproduct of the red meat industry). Under the right conditions, Novatein is biodegradable, yet it also has properties that are comparable to petrochemical-based plastics. In this video clip, Darren Harpur (Acting CEO, Aduro Biopolymers) and Johan Verbeek (chemical engineer, Waikato University) explain the diverse applications of Novatein, with a focus on agriculture, horticulture and meat processing. They describe the path towards commercialisation of Novatein, the search for investment and the recent partnership between Aduro Biopolymers and Meat & Livestock Australia.

Key question
Why might it make sense to develop a new product from an industrial byproduct?

Teaching point
Students could explore other sources of bioplastics by viewing the Biospife Innovation story.

Rights:  Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

WaikatoLink and Aduro Biopolymers – Bloodmeal to Bioplastic

Aduro Biopolymers has developed Novatein – a novel bioplastic that is made from bloodmeal (a byproduct of the red meat industry). Under the right conditions, Novatein is biodegradable, yet it also has properties that are comparable to petrochemical-based plastics. In this video clip, Darren Harpur (Acting CEO, Aduro Biopolymers) and Johan Verbeek (chemical engineer, Waikato University) explain the diverse applications of Novatein, with a focus on agriculture, horticulture and meat processing. They describe the path towards commercialisation of Novatein, the search for investment and the recent partnership between Aduro Biopolymers and Meat & Livestock Australia.

Key question
Why might it make sense to develop a new product from an industrial byproduct?

Teaching point
Students could explore other sources of bioplastics by viewing the Biospife Innovation story.

Rights:  Kiwi Innovation Network Limited

People’s Choice Supreme Award

Last but not least! The People’s Choice Supreme Award recognises overall excellence in research commercialisation. It was voted on by KiwiNet Awards attendees.

The winner of the People’s Choice Supreme Award was AUT, for its work with the Cloudy Bay Group to grow New Zealand’s (currently small) surf clam industry. AUT was a finalist in the Research and Business Partnership Award for the same work (see above). The team at AUT, led by Associate Professor Lindsey White, have established a particularly strong collaboration with the Cloudy Bay Group that is providing answers to key questions about New Zealand’s harvestable surf clam population.

Activity idea

This unit plan describes how students can design a disposable product as a sustainable alternative to an existing product using potato starch. This encourages students to develop their design and innovation skills in the context of increasing plastics use. They will also gain understanding of the challenges of developing sustainable alternatives.

The KiwiNet Awards celebrate successful innovation in New Zealand. To explore the concept of innovation further in a New Zealand context, students could use this activity on unpacking innovation.

Related content

Take a look at some of the other winners of the Kiwinet Awards in 20142015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Useful link

The KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams and organisations turning research excellence into economic or social gain.

Check out the KiwiNet website and their YouTube channel to view videos of the winners and finalists, information about the award categories, biographies of the judges and more.

Published:09 June 2014