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NZTech Inform – Agritech Unleashed!
Kia ora readers,
Last week, we were expecting some exciting announcements from AgriTech New Zealand at their Agritech Unleashed event at Fieldays. However, I wasn’t expecting to hear from Minister O’Connor that the Government was putting $20 million into an AgriTech fund! While this wasn’t a formal announcement, it is probably referring to allocating a portion of the $300 million announced during the budget. Nevertheless, it is always encouraging to see Ministers enthused by our rapidly growing AgriTech sector.
The other major announcement was the launch of the global Farm2050 Nutrient Initiative, right here in New Zealand. Farm2050 is a collective of the leading global agrifunds and agribusinesses with AgriTech New Zealand, the only country partner. The decision to have AgriTech New Zealand coordinate the global initiative, to identify and test better ways to manage nutrients is huge for New Zealand. It firmly places us in the middle of the biggest and best in agribusiness worldwide!
Tomorrow, I am joining MBIE’s chief executive, Carolyn Tremain and her leadership team for a working breakfast with the OECD on Realising the Benefits of Technological Change. It will be very interesting to hear the OECD’s perspective and how it relates to New Zealand’s challenges.
On Wednesday, I attend the BIOTechNZ Board meeting in Auckland, where I am looking forward to hearing from our delegation that recently attended the world’s largest BioTech event, BIO2019. Research is also underway to identify New Zealand’s global competitive advantages in BioTech and an analysis of the local ecosystem.
I return to Wellington on Thursday with FinTechNZ’s James Brown to present to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee. Not only is FinTech the fastest growing part of the New Zealand tech ecosystem, it also underpins everyday transactions and global trade. It is critical that New Zealand doesn’t get left behind in this space.
Hopefully, on Friday I will be able to catch up on emails! How is it, that despite increasingly rapid technological advancements, we still receive hundreds of emails a week? Can someone please fix that?
Ngā mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech
PS: Please register to attend our AGM and member event on 25 July in Auckland.
CONNECT
Join Canterbury Tech and it’s guest speakers on 2 July for a discussion on Wellness and Wellbeing. The Canterbury Tech Summit is on 12 September.
Inspire girls into tech with work experience. This year’s final ShadowTech days are being held tomorrow in Dunedin and on 27 June in Hamilton. Learn more.
How can we achieve diversity in tech? Join the discussion with EdTechNZ and TechWomen on Thursday in Auckland and 26 June in Christchurch.
PROMOTE
The Kiwi Landing Pad meets in Auckland this week for the KLP Summit. Join Agritech New Zealand the Primary Industries New Zealand Summit and Awards, 1-2 July in Wellington. Register for updates.
Meet the AI Forum’s Ben Reid at the IoT Waikato Tech Meetup on 25 June in Hamilton. Save the date for the next Tech Alliance event series with Digital Identity NZ and FinTechNZ on 11 July in Wellington and 18 July in Auckland.
Attend Identity Conference 2019 – Identity as taonga: now and in the future, 26-27 August in Wellington, exploring digital identity. Register before 16 July for early bird tickets.
ADVANCE
Local tech companies should study the United Nations sustainable development goals and position their solutions as ways to achieve them, says NZTech’s Graeme Muller. Goals include climate, environment, peace, poverty, prosperity.
Attend the briefing on E1 and E2 visas for the USA on 25 June in Auckland. The 2019 AmCham-DHL Express Success and Innovation Awards is on 23 August in Auckland. Finalists to be announced on 4 July.
Entries for the New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards (NZSEA) close 30 June. The New Zealand Esri User Conference is 12-14 August in Auckland. Applications for the Callaghan Innovation R&D Experience Grants close 31 August.
Take a break, grab a cuppa and watch Techweek TV.
