Callaghan Innovation congratulates Hi-tech award winners

Callaghan Innovation congratulated the winners of the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards and urges the wider business community to check out the opportunities for tech and innovation support as they grow.

Techweek's penultimate event, the Hi-Tech Awards, were announced at a gala dinner in Christchurch last night, attended by kiwis representing our fastest growing industry.

Winners on the night include Invenco, the Hi-Tech Company of the Year, Aliesha Staples, Healthcare Applications, Lillian Grace, Dexibit, Enatel, Beca, IBM, Gallagher Group, Banqer, Ask Nicely, and Straker Translations, which won Callaghan Innovation's Maori Innovation Award.

Callaghan Innovation CEO Vic Crone says, "Technology has huge potential to solve many problems we face in business, in society and in our economy.

"These businesses are creating outstanding tech solutions driven by their passion to do good. It's what makes New Zealand's tech sector unique, and in turn, their global excellence is attracting worldwide attention.

"What stood out most for me was the level of diversity, which is phenomenal by global tech standards.

"The representation is finally looking fairer in terms of gender, culture, age, early and established firms, industry application, and regions right across New Zealand. This was topped off by the sector's timely and heartfelt embrace of our Maori heritage.

"Maori tech success is on the rise and there are signs that the Maori economy could play a key role as this nation's largest investors.

Crone also sent a clear and urgent message to the wider business community that there is much to gain with technology, but everything to lose by standing still.

She continues, "It's a tough journey, but there is a wealth of support available both for technology-driven firms and those that simply want to use technology to solve day to day problems.

"Learning and collaborating with others in the innovation ecosystem is one of the best, but often missed, sources of support in solving difficult problems.

"Specifically tailored support for the right stage of growth can mean the difference between going global or giving up.

Working alongside Callaghan Innovation is a host of Government organisations offering support for innovators, including MBIE, NZVIF, NZTE and the Crown Research Institutes, as well as industry bodies and private sector supporters, such as incubators and accelerators.