NZ’s $166m Advanced Technology Institute launchedNZ Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has announced the structure of the government's flagship innovation body, the Advanced Technology Institute, designed to help get innovative ideas out of the lab and into the marketplace.Based in Auckland, the Hutt Valley and Christchurch the ATI will help connect high-tech firms' with New Zealand's Crown Research Institute, universities and polytechnics, Joyce said in his statement. "We expect the ATI to focus on industries with significant growth potential. The ATI will take over some business development functions that currently sit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. That will include the administration of some business research and development grants," he said. The ATI was allocated NZ$166 million over four year as part of the government's Budget 2012. The ATI has been criticised for not involving the Crown-owned advanced materials research institute, Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) in its final decision process. Joyce said, IRL will remain part of the ATI but its focus will be broader in scope operating as a Crown agent. As part of the new Wood Innovations 2012 event being run in mid-October, the General Manager of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, IRL, Dr. Richard Templar will be discussing the ATI and future linkages to the forest products R&D efforts. Remember, details on the full programme, both for New Zealand and Australia for this unique series on wood products innovations can be downloaded from the event website, www.woodinnovationsevents.com | |
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