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Welcome to our monthly "R&D News & Views" in which we will keep you updated with news about business, science and technology.
- A new member of the team
- Top Priority software
- Academic Illusion
- New Technology New Zealand guidelines
- Permanent Forest Sinks - ever wondered what they are?
To add depth and experience to the team at Catalyst we have recently been
joined by Wymond Symes. Wymond has a strong interest in the commercialization
of R&D and is eager to expand his skills and experience in the biological
industries with Catalyst. Wymond has an MSc in Biochemistry and has followed
a path in research. He ultimately became a senior scientist in neuroscience
based gene therapy labs at Auckland University and Thomas Jefferson University
in Philadelphia. In this role he worked on developing a novel genetic
vaccine for epilepsy and helped optimize viral gene delivery to the brain.
Wymond became interested in commercializing the outcomes of research
and moved to consultancy work for Auckland Uniservices Ltd and GeneDetect
Ltd. In the last 18 months Wymond has been working for Vialactia Biosciences
Ltd, a research arm of Fonterra, evaluating the commercial potential of
opportunities in the dairy industry.
Wymond’s key capabilities include:
- Experience and understanding of the biotechnology industry
- Development of early stage business opportunities.
- Project management expertise
- Specialist knowledge of the New Zealand dairy industry
A small lifestyle property near Tauranga allows him to maintain his interest
in cattle. He also enjoys mountain biking, kayaking and adventure racing.
Wymond can be contacted at:
Email: wymond.symes@catalystnz.co.nz
Phone: 027 5608776
As we mentioned in our previous newsletter 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 allows businesses to establish
top priority projects in an objective and transparent way.
This is now available via our website
From Unlimited a view of the “knowledge economy” by Bob Gauldie
and William Giesbers who have been contributing to Unlimited in a series
of articles about the state of R&D investment in NZ. In a recent article
they ask the question about the size of the leap NZ needs to make in its
business research expenditure and draw a comparison with Finland as a
comparative economy.
They make two key points:
- They estimate that it would require $16.8 billion for go-forward investment
per year that would enable us to keep pace with Finland. In 2004 the total
expenditure on R&D in New Zealand only amounted to $1.6 billion. Obviously,
it is a huge gap to leap over.
- They query where the manpower will come from to implement such investment
in business R&D. They suggest that New Zealand does not have enough
technically competent people to provide the manpower for a $16.8 billion-a-year
commercial, aggressive go-forward enterprise to keep pace with Finland.
In pointing out that the “only way out” is to drastically
increase our investment in technically competent manpower and business
expenditure on R&D they make the following observation.
“The idea that we can operate a so-called ‘knowledge economy’,
in which clever academics and government scientists can convert small
investments into large profits, is itself an academic illusion. The value
of academics, who are critical to New Zealand’s future, is their
role in producing the high-quality graduates needed to drive the creation
and implementation of commercially viable and profitable innovation-driven
products.”
To see the full article go to http://unlimited.co.nz
Technology New Zealand recently announced a refocusing of their investment
criteria. They are increasing their focus on ambitious, export oriented,
globally competitive firms and wish to support already successful firms
become even more successful.
In line with this they are seeking better returns from their TBG investments
for both the companies they invest in and the New Zealand economy. This
means adopting investment practices rather than an entitlement/grant approach.
An over view of the new focus can be found at http://www.frst.govt.nz/business/Fund_TBG.cfm
while the broad guidelines can be seen at http://www.frst.govt.nz/business/TBG_Refocus_Guidelines.cfm
If you have any questions with regard these please feel free to contact
us.
Regardless of the way we do the arithmetic one of the few ways to mitigate
the effects of global warming is to plant more trees. The other obvious
way is to emit less CO2 ! However, accepting that we are going to have
to use all possible options trees offer one of the more immediate and
achievable methods of locking up CO2.
The Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative (PFSI) is basically a way to reward
landowners for increasing the carbon density of their land (but only if
they did not intend to do so without credits!). Essentially anyone that
owns what was pasture in 1990 can apply for credits. They may well opt
to use an intermediary (e.g. Kyoto Forests NZ) to pool smaller areas together
and to give sufficient scale to entice investors and minimize transaction
costs. The carbon credits are registered against the land title and the
land/tree owners are permitted to sell their credits internationally.
If a trading scheme is developed in NZ they could also use/sell the credits
as offsets. Of course the landowner is liable for emissions if there is
subsequent deforestation.
There are many complications and permutations and Justin Ford-Robertson
is well versed in these. If you would like to know more about this please
contact him Justin.fr@catalystnz.co.nz
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