Priority One puts forward case for regional research institute

Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt said the proposal for the regional research institute was based on innovative technologies to horticulture and growing systems. Photo/File

A bid has been put forward to establish a multimillion-dollar regional research institute, in the Bay of Plenty.

Priority One, Tauranga's economic development agency put forward a business case for the proposal to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in May alongside the University of Waikato and a consortium of eight local companies.

Tomorrow Minister for Science and Technology Paul Goldsmith would be talking at the Bay of Connections Forum in Rotorua and ''will be making an announcement about Regional Research Institutes during his speech''.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment strategic investments manager Danette Olsen said the Regional Research Institutes initiative aimed to support innovation in areas outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch by leveraging the unique business, technology, and economic growth opportunities.

Institutes would be new, private and independently governed entities, funded by a mixture of public and private sources, she said, with $35.5 million of government funding still available for the regions.

''New institutes will focus on scientific research relevant to a particular region, with a strong emphasis on the effective transfer of research into new technologies, products and services.''

Priority One chief executive Nigel Tutt said the proposal was based on innovative technologies to horticulture and growing systems.

The institute could be ''a game changer'', he said.

''It will allow local companies to more rapidly access leading edge scientific research, ultimately leading to increased innovation and export revenue.''

If successful it was likely there would be a few sites across the Western Bay of Plenty, Mr Tutt said.

The bid was developed in partnership with Trimax Mowing Systems, Plus Group Horticulture, Zespri, Eurofins, Bluelab, GPS-it, Waka Digital, the University of Waikato and Priority One.

Regional Research Institutes initiative
• The initiative was announced in the 2015 Budget, with an initial commitment of $25m.
• In the 2016 Budget the Government provided an additional $40m to support the initiative, bringing the total funding to $65m.
• In the second round of funding, up to $35.5m remains available.
- source MBIE