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Vouching for R&D
Thanks to IRL’s ongoing regional seminars, more and more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the country have been finding out how they can leverage support for innovation and R&D to increase the export potential and international competitiveness of their companies.
IRL's regional seminars help businesses access funding to support technology development.
One of the aims of the workshops, which have been held in Timaru, Tauranga, Dunedin and Gisborne to date, is to help businesses access funding to support technology development.
"Many competent but smaller New Zealand firms have little experience with research and minimal information about where to start when it comes to what funding is available," says IRL’s General Manager Industry Engagement Gavin Mitchell.
"What we have found during our workshops so far is that once SMEs become more aware of available funding, they are encouraged to find out more about how R&D support and capability can add value to their products."
The lowering of the Technology Transfer Voucher threshold for companies, from $100k to $30k, further supports a long-term approach when it comes to encouraging the uptake of R&D, says Mitchell.
"We are in this for the long haul. We would like to reach SMEs throughout the country through our seminars and significantly boost not only understanding of the benefits of R&D to New Zealand industry, but also knowledge of
the specific support services and funding that have been made available to them."
Release Date:
18 October, 2011