Science commercialisation competition for women launched

Science commercialisation competition for women launched

Auckland, New Zealand. 4 February 2011…Women scientists with a business idea now have the opportunity to start their own company to commercialise it.

The Association for Women in the Sciences together with Pacific Channel, a venture development and investment company specialising in clean-technology and life-sciences, has launched the Women in Science Entrepreneurship Award. The winner of the Award will receive $50,000 of incubation time at Pacific Channel, including access to an advisory board with experience in science commercialisation.

The aim of the award is to encourage the involvement of more women in science entrepreneurship and venture creation in New Zealand, says Mitali Purohit, Associate at Pacific Channel.

“New Zealand needs a world class innovation ecosystem to capitalise on our strengths in areas such as agriculture and in scientific research, and women are currently under-represented in the upper levels of commercial science,” says Ms Purohit. “We hope this competition will allow women involved in scientific endeavours to think about their research and the potential opportunities for commercialisation for their and New Zealand’s enrichment.”

A panel of judges - including Dr Jilly Evans, co-founder of Amira Pharmaceuticals and 2010 World Class New Zealand Biotechnology category winner; Sarah Gibbs co-founder of Trilogy; and Mitali Purohit from Pacific Channel - will choose the winning entry that demonstrates the greatest social and financial impact. Ideas must be presented by individual women or groups with a female majority. Entry to the competition closes on 30 June, and the winner will be announced at the Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS) conference on 28-29 July.

More information on the competition, as well as the official entry form, can be found on the Pacific Channel website www.pacificchannel.com or on the AWIS website www.awis.org.nz.

ENDS

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