Wellington
As the whole New Zealand environment for turning ideas into income morphs into something better,stronger and faster, it's worth revisiting independent think tank The
This report sounds out an internationalisation strategy for New Zealand, proposing 14 policydirections to improve the success of businesses trying to establish themselves in internationalmarkets.
As the Ministry of Science and Innovation evolves its national network of commercialisationcentres (among many initiatives really), many parts of the document should be required reading.
One of these proposals is to establish an information clearinghouse, concentrated in one stronglybranded location so that everyone is aware of where to look and what is available.
Institute director Rick Boven says such information in New Zealand is currently too scattered andtoo difficult for a business to easily find.
The report (find it
•Access to public good information such as standardsolutions
•A directory of expertise, providers an advisors in science, engineering andcommercialisation
•Problem solving forums in research, development, business development andinternationalisation
•Provision of useful research findings to commercialisation providersand businesses
•Matching of entrepreneurs with business opportunities
•Matching ofinvestors with investment opportunities
•Matching of specialist staff with employmentopportunities
•Connections to New Zealand networks overseas, and
•Connections torelevant international solution and resource providers
"Establishing a single information clearinghouse will release resources currently consumed inmaking connections via less efficient means, while reducing search and transaction costs forbusinesses," the report says.
"More important, it will make connections that would not otherwise be made. Concentratingpromotion efforts on a single high value clearinghouse brand will increase participation by domesticand overseas people because they will be able to connect more efficiently and effectively."
The report says existing networks that are working well should be connected to the clearinghouse- not all information needs to be managed by it, but all useful information should be accessiblefrom it.