Quick Dips

Tapping into Technology

Small companies are amongst New Zealand's most innovative when it comes to using new technology to crack lucrative new markets, according to the Technology for Business Growth programme. Such companies are traditionally quick to seize an opportunity and small enough to be flexible in its implementation.

"When the scheme started [in 1989], companies who applied for funding were generally the larger ones, usually with a median turnover of between $10m-$14m," says John Manning, TBG programme manager. "The typical business that now gets TBG support has a turnover of less than $2.5m and employs about 20 staff."

Maarten Groen, managing director of French Maid Foods, used a grant to revolutionise vinegar production. According to Groen, such research would have been beyond the means of the small Lower Hutt company. Not only has the company been able to create a new product, but its success has encouraged Groen to place on-going importance on R&D.

Dr Alastair Sinton, of Christchurch electronics company PulseData International, says the 50-strong company expects a large boost to its synthetic speech business from a project nearing completion.

PulseData expects substantial new sales worldwide from its products which have revolutionised the way blind and speech impaired people carry out computer-related activities.