Smart move

"The relocation brings WelTec’s product development centre alongside IRL’s engineering workshops to create an applied engineering powerhouse that will develop new products for industry, and build the skilled workforce to use them," says Paul Mather, Director Technology Developmentand Transfer, Centre for Smart Product,WelTec Connect.

The move builds on WelTec's already-strong relationship with IRL and companies such as HTS-110^[?], Mesynthes and Im-Able,with which it has helped to develop new export products. That link goes in both directions, with IRL and staff from some of these companies also delivering lectures toWelTec engineering students.

Engineering contractor Andrew Rodger, AquaMax Devco (a WelTec-supported start-uptechnology company specialising in ultrahigh-pressure, low-volume waterjetting), and international and local engineering students working on projects with industry comprise the initial group co-locating with IRL.

Mather says the presence on site of aready pool of young, bright, enthusiastic students can only enhance innovation.

"The centre offers an integrated service that helps high-tech manufacturers to develop new products and build their staff," he says.

In addition, with both IRL and WelTec being accredited research providers in the Government's Technology Transfer Voucher scheme, the co-location will offer a "one-stop shop for manufacturing companies".

IRL General Manager Shared Services George McIrvine says the relationship is of great benefit to IRL, WelTec and New Zealand industry, and provides students with linkages to industry throughout the country.

"WelTec students support IRL but also get the opportunity to work with innovative, high-growth New Zealand companies in the high-value manufacturing sector."

This model of cooperation between educational and research providers and industry can be seen overseas at highly successful research organisations such as Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute, with which IRL also has strong links, he says.