Businesses Gear Up for Green Shoots

Local businesses gear up for ‘green shoots’ with R&D Investments

If you’re thinking of cutting back or delaying innovation and research and design activities in your business, then think again - very hard. Several North Shore businesses have recently been assisted by Enterprise North Shore with a TechNZ business investment of up to $5,000 each, providing Research and Development (R&D) capabilities to ensure future growth.

BEP Marine, Le Fresh and OE Registrations are three such local enterprises who’ve received a ‘kick start’ investment: a small investment to help stimulate R&D activities.

“Innovation is a key driver of successful global companies as it leads to the creation of new products, processes and services and the successful commercialisation of them into the market – satisfying ever evolving customer needs and demands” says Terry Hoskins, Chief Executive of Enterprise North Shore.

BEP Marine’s recent investment “assisted with technology planning and strategy” says Chris Wilkins, Technical Manager for BEP Marine.  “It is important to reprioritise investment in R&D because we know that companies that keep innovating will be best positioned when the economy turns around” he explains.  

OE Registrations, based at Massey University’s e-centre, utilised their investment to employ an Intellectual Property (IP) specialist who provided advice prior to OE Registrations investing into further Research and Development. “This will ensure we have freedom to operate without breaching other companies’ patents and guide our product ideas for future development” says Leah Davis, Managing Director at OE Registrations.

Enterprise North Shore can help companies to find the right expert for their needs and process applications for funding within several days according to Chris Lock of Enterprise North Shore. “Most businesses I work with are surprised at how simple and swift the application process is”.

“Enterprise North Shore helped us to prepare our application which was speedily processed” says Ingrid Hofma, Director of Le Fresh International who used their investment to hire a French-based expert to study a new variety of fruit.

For more information about technology strategy, prioritising R&D, finding experts or making an application for a business investment please see www.ens.org.nz/technz or contact Chris Lock or Dorian Scott at Enterprise North Shore.