20 April, 2023
Year | Award | Name | Startup Company |
2016 | Emerging Innovator | Carla Meledandri | |
2016 | Researcher Entrepreneur | Cather Simpson | Engender, Orbis |
2016 | Supreme | Cather Simpson | Engender, Orbis |
2019 | Breakthrough Innovator | Shalen Kumar | AuramerBio |
2019 | Commercialisation Professional |
Will Charles | |
2019 | Researcher Entrepreneur | Margaret Brimble | Sapvax |
2019 | Supreme | Margaret Brimble | Sapvax |
2020 | Breakthrough Innovator | Eldon Tate | Inhibit Coatings |
2020 | Researcher Entrepreneur | Jim Johnston | Noble Bond, Inhibit Coatings |
2020 | Supreme | Jim Johnston | Noble Bond, Inhibit Coatings |
2021 | Breakthrough Innovator | Shalini Divya | TasmanIon |
2022 | Breakthrough Innovator | Jonathan Ring | Zincovery |
2022 | Commercialisation Icon | Cather Simpson | Engender, Orbis |
2022 | Researcher Entrepreneur | Justin Hodgkiss | Advemto |
2022 | Commercialisation Impact | Magritek | Magritek |
We are not standing still, having introduced commercial skills training webinars, Science Advisory Panels, CEO breakfasts and the Career and Relevant-to-Industry Skills Programme (CRISP) under current Commercialisation Manager Kevin Sheehy. Meanwhile, the MacDiarmid Institute’s research is now called ‘Deep Tech’ by the various investors who beat a path to our door - that is, research and technology based on scientific knowledge that is hard-won over reasonably long timeframes, and that is difficult to replicate. We are also increasingly embracing ‘Clean Tech’ in alignment with the Institute’s focus on materials for sustainability, as exemplified by our alumnus Jono Ring (CEO, Zincovery) who won the Breakthrough Innovator Award at the KiwiNet Awards. Clean Tech directly links to one of Sir Paul’s goals, making New Zealand “a place where talent wants to live”, and there is also strong resonance with the values embedded in the rapidly growing Māori economy.
Clean Tech: it’s difficult to think of a more appropriate and challenging focus for the Institute’s impact over the next 20 years and beyond.