Industry bodies see fair shake for ICT in innovation report
NZ Rise, InternetNZ and NZICT assess the Ministry of Science and Innovation's report on promoting the tech industry.
Wednesday, November 30 2011 || News || BY Stephen Bell, Computerworld
The Ministry of Science and Innnovation released its Powering Innovation report earlier this month, which is aimed at developing New Zealand’s “high-value manufacturing and services sector”
At the launch of the report, prime minister John Key promised funding of up to $150 million over the next five years to establish a new organisation to promote the hi tech industry. Provisionally called Advanced Technology New Zealand (ATNZ), it would be based on Industrial Research Ltd, a Crown Research Institute in Wellington but with additional sites in Auckland and Christchurch.
Stephen Bell gauged reaction to the report from ICT interest groups NZ Rise, InternetNZ and NZICT.
NZRise says “benefits will be indirect”
NZRise, representing local ICT industry, is equivocal about the government’s drive toward increasing opportunities for the ICT industry.
While there are some good ideas in the report there is “nothing transformational for New Zealand IT businesses” says president Don Christie. The major effect in the short term will be on the staff of Industrial Research Ltd (IRL), the other Crown Research Institutes and universities, he says.
Christie referred Computerworld’s inquiry to NZ Rise member and local entrepreneur Dave Moscovitz, as he has more direct expertise in the operation of innovative Kiwi firms.
“There isn’t anything that really directly affects NZ-owned IT companies per se,” says Moskovitz, “but creating a stronger local innovation system has to be good for local businesses.”
He has doubts about the philosophy of selecting “niche” industry areas for particular focus. “This [approach] cuts both ways,” Moskovitz says. “I’m not sure I like the government trying to pick winners, but in the sectors it chooses, there should be an uplift in activity and skills.”
He singles out the following of the panel’s recommendations as good for local ICT firms but in an indirect sense:
• Pouring resource into producing a new generation of innovators is likely to be good for local businesses, as it increases the available local skill base and the risk appetite.
• Increasing public investment in R&D will help generate a more highly skilled local workforce.
• Boosting the Crown Research Institute IRL into something more useful will help to increase the local skill base.
“So my take is that while there is no direct impact, the indirect effects should be quite positive for local businesses,” he concludes.
At the launch of the report, prime minister John Key promised funding of up to $150 million over the next five years to establish a new organisation to promote the hi tech industry. Provisionally called Advanced Technology New Zealand (ATNZ), it would be based on Industrial Research Ltd, a Crown Research Institute in Wellington but with additional sites in Auckland and Christchurch.
Stephen Bell gauged reaction to the report from ICT interest groups NZ Rise, InternetNZ and NZICT.
NZRise says “benefits will be indirect”
NZRise, representing local ICT industry, is equivocal about the government’s drive toward increasing opportunities for the ICT industry.
While there are some good ideas in the report there is “nothing transformational for New Zealand IT businesses” says president Don Christie. The major effect in the short term will be on the staff of Industrial Research Ltd (IRL), the other Crown Research Institutes and universities, he says.
Christie referred Computerworld’s inquiry to NZ Rise member and local entrepreneur Dave Moscovitz, as he has more direct expertise in the operation of innovative Kiwi firms.
“There isn’t anything that really directly affects NZ-owned IT companies per se,” says Moskovitz, “but creating a stronger local innovation system has to be good for local businesses.”
He has doubts about the philosophy of selecting “niche” industry areas for particular focus. “This [approach] cuts both ways,” Moskovitz says. “I’m not sure I like the government trying to pick winners, but in the sectors it chooses, there should be an uplift in activity and skills.”
He singles out the following of the panel’s recommendations as good for local ICT firms but in an indirect sense:
• Pouring resource into producing a new generation of innovators is likely to be good for local businesses, as it increases the available local skill base and the risk appetite.
• Increasing public investment in R&D will help generate a more highly skilled local workforce.
• Boosting the Crown Research Institute IRL into something more useful will help to increase the local skill base.
“So my take is that while there is no direct impact, the indirect effects should be quite positive for local businesses,” he concludes.
