Published by the Communications
and Development Department
19 September 2002
The University of Canterbury is set to play a more active role in
regional and national economic and business development as the result
of a strategic partnership being signed with Industry New Zealand
tomorrow.
The partnership agreement outlines how the University and Industry
New Zealand will work together on economic development initiatives,
support for businesses, and projects such as the recently-launched
Human Interface Technology Laboratory of New Zealand.
The University wants to develop strong links with industry and broaden
its research focus with increasing emphasis on applied research with
commercial potential. It is also keen to play a role in regional leadership.
Industry New Zealand General Manager Southern Region Paul Claridge
says Industry New Zealand sees the tertiary sector as enormously important
if New Zealand’s economic performance is to be improved.
“This is the first strategic partnership Industry New Zealand
has signed with a university, and I am sure it won’t be the
last.
“Many of the children starting primary school today will work
in industries that haven’t been conceived yet. And some of our
top companies in ten years time haven’t been started yet.
“Those are hugely exciting challenges for us all. This strategic
partnership will help Canterbury University build relationships with
industry, and be more finely attuned to emerging business trends and
developments.
“It will be a powerful driver for commercialisation of applied
research occurring within the University.
“And if Industry New Zealand is serious about supporting our
high growth potential businesses and propelling them into global markets,
then we have to play a bigger role in guiding skills and talent development.”
The Tertiary Education Commission and Industry New Zealand have also
begun working closely together to secure better alignment between
education and industry, Mr Claridge said.
Professor John Raine, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
(International), welcomed the relationship with Industry New Zealand
warmly and said it would be of key importance to the University.
“The University has developed a close working relationship
with Industry New Zealand on initiatives to build industry-linked
research capability. We’ve been assisted by Canterbury Development
Corporation and all three parties are cooperating on projects that
are aimed at promoting regional economic development.
“The Human Interface Technology Laboratory of New Zealand (HIT
Lab NZ) and the proposed e-Security Lab are two very good examples.
Both of these ventures will create new technology and will involve
close collaboration with industry.”
Examples of the strategic partnership working in action in addition
to the HIT Lab NZ and e-Security laboratory, include establishing
an internship programme allowing business students to work in local
industry, collaboration between Industry New Zealand’s Business
Development Advisors and the University’s commercialising arm,
Canterprise, and linking the University with Industry New Zealand’s
sector research and strategies.
The signing ceremony is taking place at:
Time: 8.30am
Date: Friday 20 September 2002
Venue: University of Canterbury Registry, Vice-Chancellor’s
Office
Contact: Paul Claridge, (03) 962 3830 email: paul.claridge@canterbury.ac.nz
Contact: Professor John Raine, (03) 364 2204 email:
john.raine@canterbury.ac.nz
Editor’s Note
Industry New Zealand is the national economic development agency charged
with improving New Zealand’s economic performance to match that
of countries in the top half of the OECD. As part of this process,
in addition to providing a range of programmes and services, Industry
New Zealand is establishing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders
in economic and business development. This will enable additional
value to be created through the development of more world-class products
services and companies.
Business Development Advisors work alongside companies with promising
high growth potential providing advice, facilitation, access to capital
and funding through programmes offered by Industry New Zealand and
other government departments and agencies.
The University of Canterbury has relationships and partnerships with
a diverse range of government agencies (eg MoE, FoRST, TradeNZ,) tertiary
institutions (domestic and international), funding agencies (eg Health
Research Council, Royal Society) alumni and industry partners. Signing
a key stakeholder relationship agreement with Industry New Zealand
is a step towards becoming a University focused on thematic research,
strong links with industry, and characterised by a multi-disciplinary
approach, regional leadership and external orientation and stakeholder
focus.
