KiwiNet

KiwiNet Accelerating Aotearoa's best science to market. Supporting world-changing innovation.

KiwiNet's purpose is to empower and enable New Zealand’s public research organisations to better commercialise their ideas, intellectual property and capability to boost economic outcomes for New Zealand. KiwiNet's vision is a highly collaborative innovation ecosystem in New Zealand with strong alignment between research and business to drive economic growth. In the past 18 months, KiwiNet have shown that with goodwill, trust, effort and leadership, an alliance between NZ research organisations is not only possible, but is also capable of achieving great things. KiwiNet’s collaborative approach has the ability to not only strengthen research commercialisation, but to also create new opportunities in other parts of the value chain that would otherwise be unlikely to occur.

Ones to watch 👀 These entrepreneurial researchers are turning bold ideas into innovative real-world solutions — and maki...
06/08/2025

Ones to watch 👀 These entrepreneurial researchers are turning bold ideas into innovative real-world solutions — and making their mark on Aotearoa’s future.

Meet our 2025 Breakthrough Innovator finalists:

🌟 François-Xavier Collard: Pioneering biofuel for a greener maritime future

🌟 Ben Mallet: Propelling New Zealand to the frontiers of deep space

🌟 Patricia Rubio-Reyes: Improving cell therapy control to fight cancer


🔗 Read about the finalists here: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2025Finalists

🙌 Support their journey by sharing this post and spreading the word!



Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Bioeconomy Science Institute Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

🚀 This is what research making a difference looks like. The AJ Park Commercialisation Impact Award celebrates projects ...
06/08/2025

🚀 This is what research making a difference looks like.

The AJ Park Commercialisation Impact Award celebrates projects that have gone beyond the breakthrough — delivering real economic, environmental, social or cultural impact for Aotearoa.

Meet our stellar finalists:

🌟 Nectaron: Next-generation flavours brewing global success

🌟 Potato Innovation: A sustainable French fry future

🌟 Zincovery: Leading the future of clean metal refining

🔗 Learn more about the finalists: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2025Finalists

🔁 Share and celebrate these groundbreaking innovations!



Bioeconomy Science Institute Plant & Food Research University of Canterbury NZ Hops Ltd

Research 🤝 Results. These entrepreneurial researchers are driving meaningful change — turning scientific discoveries int...
06/08/2025

Research 🤝 Results. These entrepreneurial researchers are driving meaningful change — turning scientific discoveries into new products and services that benefit New Zealanders.

Meet the BNZ Researcher Entrepreneur finalists for 2025:

✨ Prof. Paul Glue: Pioneering impact for mental health
✨ Prof. Aaron Marshall: An inspiring visionary in clean-tech innovation
✨ Dr Michel Nieuwoudt: Making light work of hard problems

🔗 Learn more: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2025Finalists

🙌 Show your support for these amazing finalists in the comments!



University of Otago University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau UCSA - University of Canterbury Students' Association

These are the breakout success stories shaping a better tomorrow 🚀 The PwC New Zealand Breakthrough Project Award celebr...
06/08/2025

These are the breakout success stories shaping a better tomorrow 🚀

The PwC New Zealand Breakthrough Project Award celebrates standout projects that have recently achieved major commercial milestones and exemplify best-practice research commercialisation. Meet our 2025 finalists:


🌟 CAR T-cell therapy: Engineering the future of cancer care in New Zealand

🌟 Ocean Intelligence: Forecasting the future of marine farming

🌟 Wellumio: Lifesaving stroke imaging when every second counts

🔗 Learn how these projects are shaping a brighter future: [Link]

🔁 Share and celebrate these groundbreaking innovations!



Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Cawthron Institute Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Bright ideas, big potential 🚀 Meet the students who are shaping New Zealand’s future! Introducing this year’s finalists ...
06/08/2025

Bright ideas, big potential 🚀 Meet the students who are shaping New Zealand’s future! Introducing this year’s finalists for the Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award:

✨ Emmalee Abbott Joe - Froth: Making travel more sustainable, one haircare tablet at a time
✨ Josiah Bugden – CourseSpy: Creating transparency in higher education
✨ Jade Luxton – Sterineedle: The holster revolutionising livestock vaccinations

🔗 Explore their innovations: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2025Finalists

🙌 Show your support by sharing or giving them a shoutout below!



University of Canterbury University of Otago

Behind every successful innovation story is a team of unsung heroes making it happen. We’re kicking off our 2025 anno...
06/08/2025

Behind every successful innovation story is a team of unsung heroes making it happen.

We’re kicking off our 2025 announcements with the experts working behind the scenes to turn publicly funded research into real-world impact.

Meet the 2025 KCA Commercialisation Professional finalists:

🌟 Amanda Davies: Building pathways to turn science into impact
🌟 Arron Judson: Building capability, not just companies
🌟 Sue Muggleston: A legacy of IP excellence and growing future leaders

🔗 Learn more: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards/Awards2025Finalists

🙌 Show your support in the comments!

Big ideas deserve big recognition! 💡 Entries for the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards are now open! This i...
26/02/2025

Big ideas deserve big recognition! 💡 Entries for the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards are now open!

This is your chance to get your people and projects in front of New Zealand's key industry leaders. Are you or someone you know making waves in innovation? Don’t wait – enter now! 2025 categories are:

🔹 Breakthrough Innovator
🔹 Breakthrough Project
🔹 Researcher Entrepreneur
🔹 Commercialisation Professional
🔹 Commercialisation Impact

📅 Deadline for Entries: 17 April 2025
🎉 Save the Date: Awards evening celebration 22 October 2025

Find all the details and entry forms here: https://kiwinet.org.nz/Awards

Every great idea needs the right match 💖
13/02/2025

Every great idea needs the right match 💖

Every $1 invested into PreSeed generates $13 in economic value! MBIE’s 2024 review of the PreSeed Accelerator Fund and C...
18/12/2024

Every $1 invested into PreSeed generates $13 in economic value!

MBIE’s 2024 review of the PreSeed Accelerator Fund and Commercialisation Partner Network highlights the remarkable returns of investing in research commercialisation—powering new business, creating jobs, and tackling global challenges. 🌏✨

KiwiNet is proud to play a leading role in turning research into real-world impact. Together, we’re building a brighter future for Aotearoa.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZGOJbB

Why invest in innovation? 💡 The numbers speak for themselves. MBIE’s latest report reveals the PreSeed Accelerator Fund ...
17/12/2024

Why invest in innovation? 💡 The numbers speak for themselves.

MBIE’s latest report reveals the PreSeed Accelerator Fund and Commercialisation Partner Network have delivered nearly $1 billion in economic value for Aotearoa over the last 10 years. 📈

When we back innovation, we create jobs, grow businesses, and build a better future. 🚀

Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZGOJbB

What an incredible evening at the 2024 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards! 🎉✨Last night, we came together at the ...
10/10/2024

What an incredible evening at the 2024 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards! 🎉✨

Last night, we came together at the Viaduct Events Centre to celebrate the innovative projects and extraordinary talent driving our sector forward. Our finalists exemplify what's possible when clever Kiwi innovations and exceptional commercialisation leadership combine. Their mahi shows how public research can create jobs, boost exports, strengthen the economy, and address the world’s biggest challenges. 🌍💡

Congratulations to this year’s winners who are leading the way:

🏆 Commercialisation Icon Award: Melissa Yiannoutsos – Booster NZ

🏆 Momentum Student Entrepreneur Award: Emma Arvidson – Teiny / University of Canterbury

🏆 Sprout Agritech Breakthrough Innovator Award: Emily McIsaac – Daisy Lab / Massey University

🏆 Bank of New Zealand Researcher Entrepreneur Award: Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase – University of Canterbury

🏆 KCA Commercialisation Rising Star Award: Ben Pearson – UniServices

🏆 PwC New Zealand Breakthrough Project Award: ZealaFoam® – AgResearch / Plant and Food Research / Scion

🏆 AJ Park Commercialisation Impact Award: Toku Eyes and The University of Auckland

📖 Read more about the winners and their achievements here: https://bit.ly/3YgYTjR

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Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Hamilton
3216

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Thursday 9am - 5pm
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Our Story

KiwiNet champions people who want to commercialise their publicly-funded research, by helping them to access the tools, connections, investment and support they need to create amazing new products and services. We provide PreSeed funding to help bridge the gap between early-stage public research funding, and getting a product ready for private sector investment.

We do it for the good of our country. We share a common goal of increasing the scale and impact of science and technology innovation, to maximise the economic benefit to New Zealand.

To date KiwiNet has provided $40.6m in PreSeed investment to researchers across the country, with 443 patents secured and 49 start-up companies established. Our PreSeed projects since 2003 represent a return to New Zealand of eight-times greater than the amount invested.