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Peterson’s Perspective: Will the science and R&D plan work?

by Gilbert Peterson on www.mscnewswire.co.nz For the past six years New Zealand’s innovation landscape has been littered with dithering and waste as the country’s investment in science and R&D failed to rise to an average OECD performance. With that in the background this week’s announcement of the new ‘National Science Strategy’ and Building Innovation plan, must surely be Minister Steven Joyce’s last shot at gaining traction in this the economy’s weakest performing, and most critically exposed area. The launch of the new way forward for science and innovation is at least as important, if not more so than the announcement of the TPP agreement though totally eclipsed by it. But the question remains: Will the new approach prove the most efficient and effective way to move science investment and its commercialization significantly forward? Certainly Science and Innovation Minister Joyce deserves congratulations for hearing what business and the science community had to say, and coming up with a plan to address their concerns. For the first time I can recall the minister articulated clearly the economic value contribution made by science and R&D to the nation. In launching Building Innovation he said: “Successful innovation improves competiveness, increases our output, drives productivity growth, and creates successful exports by introducing new or improved products, processes, or methods into the economy.” Bravo for that. Our future prosperity depends on innovation and the science and R&D that underpin it. The chief economist of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Roger Proctor, spelled this out in a blog earlier this year. In answering the question, ‘Where does income growth come from?’ he said it comes from increases in productivity that occur when new things are produced that people are willing to pay more for than they cost to produce, and by producing new things we […]

ExportNZ Welcomes TPP deal

Catherine Beard, Executive Director of ExportNZ says it is a huge relief for New Zealand exporters that the Trans Pacific Partnership deal has reached a positive conclusion, despite not getting all we wanted from dairy access. “It is important to remember the significance of the TPP opportunity.” “TPP represents around 40% of world GDP – and our businesses need equal access to those huge markets. New Zealand has more to gain from TPP than most countries because the highest tariffs apply to primary products, which are around two-thirds of our goods exports.” “New Zealand has been trying for years to get competitive access to big markets like the US and Japan, and TPP will open those doors and allow our exporters to compete. ” “TPP will eliminate tariffs on 93 per cent of New Zealand’s exports to the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Peru, and for that result our negotiators and Trade Minister Groser must be congratulated.” “If we want to have diversified exports – both goods and services, to participate in global value chains and to spread our risk geographically we cannot afford to sit on the side-lines of these sorts of deals.” “Fortress New Zealand is not an option. The world has moved on, business is internationally connected and increasingly borderless and New Zealand needs to be involved”.

TPP Outstanding Achievement says EMA

The EMA says confirmation that agreement has been reached on the Trans Pacific Partnership is an outstanding achievement. While New Zealand has had to compromise in some areas, the overall result will deliver significant benefits for our economy, says Kim Campbell, CEO, EMA. “This has been a long time coming and it is a momentous occasion to see this get over the line. I have strongly advocated that it’s much better to be part of the deal, than not,” says Mr Campbell. “We look forward to seeing the detail of the agreement. Our negotiators and Trade Minister Groser are to be congratulated on finalising this transformative deal. Overall, we believe this is a significant move for our members, particularly our manufacturing sector. “Like all trade deals, we are confident that as the TPP matures it will contribute positively to New Zealand’s ongoing prosperity. “We already have good free trade agreements with both China and ASEAN, and most recently the Republic of Korea deal was passed. Agreement on the TPP is a significant addition to our suite of trade deals,” says Mr Campbell. The ASEAN agreement is due for review this year, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is currently being negotiated. Work is underway on a New Zealand and European Union agreement, as Europe remains New Zealand’s third largest export trading partner and a leading source of imports.

New Zealand 16th most competitive country in the world

According to the Global Competitiveness Index, which ranks countries according to their performance on factors such as innovation, market size, market efficiency, infrastructure, business sophistication and others, New Zealand has steadily climbed the competitiveness rankings, from 17th place last year and 18th the year before, and from placings between 20th and 24th in previous years. New Zealand’s GDP per capita (currently US$40,000) has also climbed steadily over the same period. BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says this year’s results highlight the outstanding strength and integrity of New Zealand’s institutions and economic fundamentals, while pointing to the need for improvement in areas such as innovation, business sophistication and infrastructure. “In our progress towards becoming a more value-added, sophisticated exporter of goods and services, New Zealand performed ‘okay but could do better’ on factors such as collaboration for innovation, government purchasing fostering innovation, investment in R&D and training, availability of in-demand skills, availability of engineers and scientists, availability of finance for innovative start-ups, appetite for entrepreneurial risk, development of unique products and processes, companies’ control of international distribution of their products, and participation in value chains and clusters,” Mr O’Reilly said. “In New Zealand’s environment for business, areas for improvement include the compliance burden on business, restrictive regulations on hiring and firing, restrictive foreign investment rules, restrictions on hiring foreign labour, lack of ‘pay for productivity’ practices, and tax and benefit policies reducing incentives to work and invest. “The Competitiveness Report found that New Zealand’s road and rail infrastructure were of a middling ranking but could be improved. “Good scores were achieved for strategies for and use of ICT and for companies growing online sales. “And the excellent performance of New Zealand’s institutions and economic settings continues to support and grow our creditable, improving overall competitiveness scores,” Mr O’Reilly said. The top ten […]

Exports down, forecast remains stable

The latest New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) Survey of Business Conditions completed during September 2015, shows total sales in August 2015 decreased 7.57% (year on year export sales decreased 3.18% with domestic sales decreasing 13%) on August 2014. The NZMEA survey sample this month covered NZ$460m in annualised sales, with an export content of 58%. Net confidence fell to 5, down from 12 in July. The current performance index (a combination of profitability and cash flow) is at 111, up from 107 last month, the change index (capacity utilisation, staff levels, orders and inventories) was at 99, up from 97 in the last survey, and the forecast index (investment, sales, profitability and staff) is at 106.67, down slightly on the last result of 107.33. Anything over 100 indicates expansion. Constraints reported were 71% markets, 19% production capacity and 10% skilled staff. Net 4% of firms reported a modest rise in productivity in August. Staff numbers for August increased 1.31% year on year. Tradespersons, supervisors, managers, professional/scientists and operators/labourers all reported a moderate shortage. “The survey this month was mixed, with year on year sales falling in August after recent increases in July, however performance and forecast indexes still show a positive result,” says NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam. “The number of respondents reporting a rise or fall in sales is evenly split, however the final result is effected by the larger fall in the Oil and Gas markets, both domestically and internationally.” “Manufacturers and exporters are showing increases in profitability and cash flow from a combination of efficiencies, the lower exchange rate and good management. There are also encouraging signs with investment plans, sales and profit forecasts and average selling prices all still in positive territory and continuing the recent upward trend.” “The trend for sales over recent […]

Meet Model X from Tesla

Model X is said to be the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history. Standard with all-wheel drive and a 90 kWh battery providing 250 miles of range, Model X has ample seating for seven adults and all of their gear. And it’s ludicrously fast, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. Model X is the SUV uncompromised. The estimated delivery for new reservations is the latter half of 2016. Safety First Design Every part of Model X is designed with safety as a first priority. The floor-mounted battery lowers the centre of gravity so that the risk of rollover is almost non-existent. The battery structure strengthens Model X against side impact intrusions. And without a gasoline engine, the large front trunk acts as a giant impact-absorbing crumple zone. Active Safety Model X continually scans the surrounding roadway with camera, radar and sonar systems, providing the driver with real-time feedback to avoid collisions. Even at highway speeds, Model X will automatically apply brakes in an emergency. Pollution Free, Inside and Out A medical grade HEPA filter strips outside air of pollen, bacteria, viruses and pollution before circulating it into the cabin. There are three modes: circulate with outside air, re-circulate inside air and a bioweapon defence mode that creates positive pressure inside the cabin to protect occupants. Falcon Wings Falcon Wing doors allow easy access to second and third row seats from any parking space. Minivan style sliding doors open at most halfway while traditional doors are not capable of opening fully when parked next to another car. With only a foot of clearance, Falcon Wing doors articulate smoothly up and out of the way, allowing passengers to enter from both front and rear directions. The side and overhead opening is so large […]

Free electrical design software with DesignSpark Electrical

RS Components (RS), the trading brand of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers, has launched DesignSpark Electrical, which brings the benefits of design software to all those not already using electrical CAD tools. The new software targets electrical design engineers and other electrical professionals, enabling them to save time and money. Supported by Schneider Electric, DesignSpark Electrical joins the award-winning suite of DesignSpark engineering resources and continues to drive the initiative of removing the barriers to innovation for every engineer. DesignSpark Electrical is a fully specified electrical CAD package delivering time saving and error avoidance, for control panel, machinery and electrical system design. This new free tool provides access to the functionality of electrical CAD for businesses that in many cases cannot reasonably justify the considerable price tag per seat for existing commercial electrical CAD software. A key element of the DesignSpark Electrical software is the integration of a library that comprises more than 250,000 components and parts, including 80,000 from Schneider Electric and 10,000 from RS, which can easily be added to customer designs. Other key features of the highly intuitive and highly functional software include intelligent and specialist electrical design tools, real-time referencing and validity checking to allow the creation of accurate 2D panel layouts, all of which saves time and reduces errors. Also built into the software is Bill-of-Materials (BOM) quote functionality, enabling customers to order parts via RS for their designs, both quickly and easily. The high cost and the learning time required of existing commercial electrical CAD tools have been major barriers to adoption for many companies. The introduction of the highly intuitive DesignSpark Electrical removes these cost barriers in a single stroke and passes on the key benefits of electrical CAD to all engineers. DesignSpark Electrical is available for free download at www.designspark.com.

Hello Industry 4.0

In the picture: The newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot At the KUKA booth, the visitors of this year’s Hanover Fair can deal with the increasing digitalisation of production and cooperative network of employees and machines. As Europe’s leading supplier of industrial robots and automated production systems, KUKA directly participates with its products and services in the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. Therefore, robots will be the defining component for industry in the future – while the human takes centre stage. Sustainable automation concepts can only be developed with efficient, flexible and first of all safe production systems respecting the needs of the production staff. KUKA will not only present ways in which KUKA products can improve competitiveness, but also prove its compatibility with the digital world. Across the more than 1000 square meters of space in the Industrial Automation area, KUKA will be presenting innovative solutions that have one key characteristic in common: they are all designed to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0 and bring flexibility in the utilisation of production capacity, in logistics, in the sustainable use of resources. KUKA achieves this by merging the IT world and conventional high-tech industry solutions into complete Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS). In order to react in a flexible manner, to control process data streams from complex networks around the globe and to network digital controllers from different systems, interfaces based on Mainstream IT infrastructure are essential. This was already a key concept at KUKA in the mid-90s when it brought the first PC-based robot controllers onto the market. Subsequent KUKA innovations and developments also followed this core concept of simple integration. With the newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot and the controller Sunrise designed for […]

How being open can give manufacturers the innovative edge

Tesla Motors’ decision last year to make all of its patents open to outside use has turned the industry on its head. By Stefano Picozzi, PaaS business development manager, Red Hat A/NZ Most industries are affected by disruption from technology so, to remain competitive, organisations need to keep up. Technology advances affect manufacturing, in particular. The industry is changing quickly, and the manufacturers that continue to prosper are those that keep pace with technology. Industrial solutions such as automation, resource management systems, and high-speed industrial design processes have helped manufacturers become far more agile and productive than they used to be. A manufacturer can only be as innovative and agile as the software on which these industrial solutions rely. However, not all software is created equal. The bulk of software solutions used in this industry is proprietary; owned, managed, and developed by a single company. This means new developments can be slower when it comes to innovation and best practice. Open source software, by comparison, is not owned by any single organisation; it is the result of a global community of millions of programmers. Because of the open and collaborative nature of this sort of software, with many minds contributing to its development, it can keep up with the agility and innovation that industry now demands. Organisations in many areas of business are increasingly seeing the value in the open source approach. The automotive sector is a good example. Digital design and automated manufacturing means developing a new car now takes a fraction of the time it used to. Tesla Motors’ decision last year to make all of its patents open to outside use has turned the industry on its head. Tesla made this unprecedented move in the hope that it would help drive the adoption of electric car platforms. […]

Company Profile: Nelson Honey

Around 85% of their products are destined for export, with China, Australia, South East Asia and the USA being some of their primary markets Nelson Honey is a family owned producer and exporter of high quality honey based goods, based out of Motupiko, 50km south of Nelson. Their focus is on producing high grade active manuka honey, although the larger section of the business revolves around high value bee venom and honey based cosmetic products. First opening in 1973, the company has ties to the industry and region stretching back much further – the business was formed by Philip Cropp, a third generation beekeeper whose grandfather started beekeeping in the Nelson region over 100 years ago. Nelson Honey employ around 60 people, many of which work to care for and maintain the 4000 beehives the firm has spread throughout the top of the South Island. Around 85% of their products are destined for export, with China, Australia, South East Asia and the USA being some of their primary markets. They also established a UK-based office to further expand their export markets, marketing their honey products throughout Europe, which has been most successful in creating interest and demand for their cosmetic ranges so far. One particular success for Nelson Honey has been their Royal Nectar brand, which is venom and honey based cosmetic range, with demand currently out stripping production. “As a pioneer of this market Nelson Honey has managed to cement a solid position for the brand worldwide in a relatively short space of time” said Rob Hawkes, the Chief Executive of Nelson Honey. Whilst the Royal Nectar range has a dedicated market following, Nelson Honey plan to continually expand and adapt the variety of products they offer as demand in certain markets changes. “All markets are continually evolving and […]

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