United States company Raytheon Marine, fresh from buying Albany-based software developer Kiwitech, is keen to scout for more technology partners in New Zealand.
Its chief technology officer, Terry Startsman, told the Business Herald that Kiwitech would be relocated to the US to consolidate all critical development work underone roof. He declined to say how much Raytheon paid for the company and its five staff.
Kiwitech has developed software enabling various electronic components on a boat to be networked. The technology has since been incorporated into Raytheon Marine's recreational navigation software, Raytech.
While Raytheon Marine had no plans to have a research base in New Zealand, the New Zealand Trade Development Board made a compelling case for the company to consider using New Zealand in the future, Mr Startsman said.
"The trade-off cost for us is the cost of research here versus the time zone changes for us. But I don't think that would stop us at all."
While in New Zealand, Raytheon Marine is meeting other companies to find technology which could be developed jointly.
Raytheon Marine is also a technology partner with Virtual Spectator which provides live coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Its technology amalgamates CD-ROM technology, global positioning systems and broadcast technology for internet delivery.
Raytheon Marine is part of the Raytheon group, the latter a $US20 billion ($39 billion) global company.
