Media Release

Latest News | Archives

Pilot projects for growth and innovation announced
by Hon Trevor Mallard
Friday, 22 February 2005

ICT Professionals for the future

Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced four cutting edge growth and innovation pilot projects - part of a programme aimed at developing a highly skilled workforce in key growth sectors for New Zealand's economy.

"The Labour-led government established a Growth and Innovation framework which identifies bio technology, information and communications technology and the creative industries as three areas with considerable growth potential for our economy.

"The projects I am announcing today reflect our government's commitment to targeting these areas. They are part of the Growth and Innovation Pilot Initiatives programme, run by the Tertiary Education Commission," Trevor Mallard said.

The new projects are to share just over $3 million over three years. They include:

• ICT Professionals for the future (Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand, Massey University and related industry groups.)
  
• Design led futures (Victoria University of Wellington, Fisher and Paykel Appliances Ltd, Methven Ltd).
  
• Design for the Timber Furniture Industry (Massey University).
  
• Biotechnology Sector Education Programme (University of Otago).
  
• Identification of future design needs for the fashion and textile businesses (Massey University).

ICT Professionals for the future
Engineers and computer science professionals play a major role in creating wealth in industries across a number of sectors through innovation and production development.

This project, involving collaboration between professional bodies, industry associations, and industry and tertiary education organisations, will lead to graduates in the ICT sector that not only have highly developed technical skills but will also have a more entrepreneurial outlook and approach.

Contact: Dr Andrew Cleland (CEO, Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand), Ph: (04) 474 8935
Contact: Professor Bob Hodgson, (Massey University), Ph: (06) 356 9099 extn 5280


Growth and Innovation Pilots programme
The Growth and Innovation Pilots programme was set up in November 2003 to provide funding for tertiary education organisations to develop more extensive linkages with industry within the biotechnology, design, and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.

"New Zealand needs to take positive steps to improve its performance in collaboration within and between sectors," Trevor Mallard said.

"Treasury’s 2004 workshop on the productivity and performance of New Zealand enterprise clearly identified how critical it is that we forge better linkages across our economy between all sectors and businesses. This is an area where we lag well behind Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the United States," he said.

"Unless we improve, we risk losing our international competitiveness in areas where we are leading the world."

The Growth and Innovation Pilots programme is an integral part of the government’s Growth and Innovation Framework, a multi-agency approach that seeks to transform New Zealand into a prosperous and socially inclusive nation, based on sustainability, knowledge and innovation.

The Labour-led Government approved a total pool of almost $28 million over five years for the Growth and Innovation Pilots programme and nearly $4 million was allocated in the first round in mid 2004.

For more information see:

Kiwis need to understand the link between economic prosperity and quality of life
Monday 19 April 2004

Back to News and Views