New Zealand Science Delegation to Visit South America

The delegation is accompanying the New Zealand Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Hon Maurice Williamson, and is promoting New Zealand's expertise in high value product development and demonstrating the positioning of New Zealand as an innovative, high-tech partner.

The key members of the delegation are:

Dr James Buwalda, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology

Dr Helen Anderson, Chief Scientific Adviser of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology

Dr Jenny Aitken-Christie, Manager Research and Technology, Carter Holt Harvey - Forests

Professor Diana Hill, Ag Research Molecular Biology Unit, University of Otago

Dr Richard Templer, Research Programme Manager, Industrial Research Ltd

Neville Jordan, Founder MAS Technology NZ Ltd

Five key sectors that were identified in selecting this delegation were: telecommunications, biotechnology, food systems technologies, timber processing technologies and agricultural technologies.

New Zealand prides itself in its advanced scientific and technology capability and is looking to areas of opportunity for collaborative research around its innovative science system reforms. The rapid economic growth in South America and has led to increasing demand for advances in science technology.

Recent specific examples of relevant science technology developments in New Zealand are as follows:

• In the telecommunications field, MAS Technology created a multi-million dollar export market with the development of new digital technology - which replaces telephone wires with a unique radio signalling system.

• Forestry is a significant industry in New Zealand and the introduction of DRY SPEC technology will result in major economic benefits to the timber export industry through increasing the overall quality of the exported product. A critical requirement of export markets is for precise levels and uniformity of moisture content in timbers. DRY SPEC is a patented method of utilising electrical resistance for in-kiln moisture measurement for timber drying..

• The New Zealand company Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) has been involved in Machine Vision research since the mid-1980s. Machine Vision systems utilise "machines that see". They apply computing, laser, electronic and optical technologies to non-contact automated inspection, measurement and verification tasks in industry. They provide solutions to otherwise intractable industrial problems, and have significant potential for improving the efficiency and quality control in New Zealand industry. Current applications include kiwifruit profile measurement and in the automated apple-grading system.

• The success of Scott Technology Ltd and Animation Research Ltd, both of Dunedin, are two further examples of New Zealand's emerging technology expertise.

Scott Technology specialises in whiteware manufacturing equipment and has captured 80 per cent of the United States market with clients such as Maytag, General Electric and Whirlpool. The company exports all of its specialised production, there are no sales in New Zealand.

Animation Research Limited (ARL) is a computer graphics house and is an example of a small innovative company who is competing internationally in niche markets using home grown, leading edge technology. It has been responsible for pioneering a number of "world first" innovations in the field of computer animation. It has developed the technology that enables television viewers to see real-time animated pictures of the racing yachts during the last America's Cup yachting event and that same technology is now being applied to the sport of golf.