R&D News & Views - June 2006

Welcome to "R&D News & Views" in which we will keep you updated with news about business, science and technology.

The five items for this month are:

1. Ngati Porou Whanui Forests – Knowledge Creation
2. Hortitech New Zealand
3. Top Priority Software
4. How to make a sound investment decision
5. Recognition for services to agricultural & horticultural research

1. Ngati Porou Whanui Forests – Knowledge Creation

Over the last three years we have greatly enjoyed working with this company. Under the leadership of CEO Chris Insley they have undertaken the development of a comprehensive development knowledge creation strategy and then importantly have proceeded to implement this in a comprehensive way. An outline of what has been achieved can be seen at www.frst.govt.nz/news/2006/Ngati_porou-June06.cfm or if you want to find out more about Ngati Porou Whanui Forests you can go to www.npwfl.co.nz

2. Hortitech New Zealand

Catalyst has recently become a member of HortiTech New Zealand a Trade & Enterprise supported cluster group. HortiTech is a group of horticultural technology companies that produce a wide range of innovative solutions that maximise commercial outcomes for all levels of the horticulture value chain. Current membership includes businesses active in the following areas:

1. Spraying Systems
2. Pollen Delivery System
3. Computer technology
4. Analytical Laboratory
5. Packaging system/grader
6. Fertiliser/nutrients
7. Frost protection

There has recently been a series of presentations through out New Zealand to promote the grouping and it is currently undertaking a planning process to establish its organisational and marketing structure.

More information can be found at www.hortitech.co.nz or you can contact

Jenny Milson
Regional Account Coordinator
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise – Bay of Plenty
jenny.milson@nzte.govt.nz
Phone +64 7 577 6199

3. Top Priority Software

Over this year we have been working on developing web based software to assist businesses in the prioritization of their research and development efforts. This is based on our experiences over the last six years working with companies and the need to be able to establish the top priority projects to be undertaken in an objective and transparent way. We have been working with software developer Xenacom on this project (www.xenacom.com).

We will be launching this product next month but if you are interested in knowing more about this please contact us.

4. How to make a sound investment decision

The following is from Sir Bob Jones - talking about participating in the up and coming NZ series of Dragons Den, and as reported in the NZ Herald.

"Sir Bob - a Luddite who refuses to use a cellphone - laid out the laws under which he would part with any of his $200 million.

He would not invest in any technology idea - or anybody with bad grammar, and "I would not go with a bearded character".

Nor would he consider a "fat woman" or anybody with sunglasses on top of their head….

Sir Bob said his time left on the planet was limited, so he wanted some immediate gratification out of his ventures."

It seems so simple!!

5. Recognition for services to agricultural & horticultural research

Science and technology was well recognized in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006. A number of people were recognized from a diversity of fields.

Catalyst R&D was delighted that Jane Lancaster was among the recipients being recognized as a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M) for services to agricultural and horticultural research.