Five Companies to Receive Awards

Media Statement 12 June 2003

Five Companies to Receive Awards

Five companies are to receive The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology's prestigious Technology Commendation Awards. The awards are given to companies who have developed or applied new technology to their business which in turn has lead to the further growth of their respective businesses.

The 2003 winners are :

* Allied Telesyn Research of Christchurch for its internet backbone SwitchBlade system

* Argent Metals of Auckland for the development of virtual design methodology for the design of metal wheel castings

* Formway of Wellington for the design of a super ergonomic office chair

* Racewell of Te Kuiti for the design of an electronic sheep handling system

* Right Hemisphere of Auckland for the development of automated graphical 2D and 3D graphic solutions

The winners will receive a trophy, a framed certificate and are also entitled to use the special logo of excellence associated with the awards in any of their marketing or publicity campaigns. The awards will be presented to the winners by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Hon Pete Hodgson at the Export Awards dinner in Christchurch this evening (June 12).

This years awards attracted a record 32 entries from companies throughout New Zealand. According to the judges, the standard of entries was very high and it was no easy task selecting the five dinners.

The Technology Commendations Awards, which have been running for the last four years, recognise the contribution made by individuals and companies towards growing their business and improving the New Zealand economy through the use of new technology - either by designing it or applying it. The awards are open to any company in New Zealand - large, medium or small, regardless of whether or not they have received funding from the Foundation.

The Technology Commendations were initiated by the Foundation to ensure that successful innovative companies received due public recognition for their successful ventures. The Commendations were also set up to identify some 'role model innovative businesses' that would inspire other companies and individuals to emulate. Since the Commendations were initiated seventeen companies (including the five winners announced today) have received the awards and many have utilised the awards to raise the profile of their products and to generate new business opportunities both nationally and internationally.

In addition to the five winners, the Foundation has decided to present 'Highly Commended' certificates to three other companies. They are

* Animation Research Limited of Dunedin for the development of graphics for Whalewatch at Kaikoura

* Pulsedata International of Christchurch for the innovative upgrading of its Braillenote computer technology

* Talkingtech Com Ltd of Hamilton for a special interactive voice response system

The Chief Executive of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Gowan Pickering says once again the Awards have revealed another group of top achieving New Zealand companies whose innovation has led to export growth. He says the Foundation through its Technology New Zealand programme has assisted many of the companies who have won awards, now and in past, to develop their research and development capability. He says this investment is clearly paying off and New Zealand as a whole as well as the companies are reaping the benefit of good strategic investments in R&D.

Mr Pickering says the winners and all those who submitted entries are to be congratulated on their enterprise and initiative and he says with such quality companies emerging on a regular basis, the future for New Zealand looks bright.

ENDS

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