Businesses wanting to protect their products and be inspired by kiwi business success stories have the opportunity to learn from the best, through a series of new regional events.
Turning Innovation into Gold is a nationwide seminar series organised by national intellectual property specialists James & Wells to champion kiwi innovation. The series will see James & Wells teaming up with Innovation Council and a host of kiwi innovators who will share their stories on how they’ve turned innovation into sustainable commercial success.
James & Wells founding Partner and seminar series panellist Ceri Wells says New Zealand is an innovative country “but we have a dismal record by OECD standards for successfully commercialising our innovations. Although innovation is on the boardroom agenda like never before, there is little point if you can’t transform your inventions into sustained commercial success.”
Wells says New Zealand business has to “up its game” in this area. “We’re far from our markets so the ideal product for us is one that can be sold, licensed and delivered electronically. The seminar series will be very relevant and hugely beneficial for kiwi businesses, especially for those with an eye on the export market.”
With support from regional hubs including Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, Export New Zealand Bay of Plenty and Waikato Innovation Park, the series has secured 12 speakers including ARANZ Medical CEO Dr Bruce Davey, New Zealand Mānuka Group CEO Karl Gradon, Gallagher Research and Development Executive Rob Heebink and StretchSense CTO and Co-Founder Todd Gisby.
With the spotlight on New Zealand’s changing innovation landscape, the panellists will share how to maximise innovation in today’s fragmented and challenging business world, successfully commercialise innovation, and build channels to market.
Pictured: Ceri Wells.
Seminar dates and locations are:
· Christchurch: Friday November 4, 7.30am; Chamber of Commerce Building
· Tauranga: Tuesday November 15, 7.30am; ASB Bay Park Arena
· Hamilton: Wednesday 16 November, 7.30am; Waikato Innovation Park
· Auckland: Thursday 17 November, 7.30am; James & Wells L2, 123 Carlton Gore Rd Newmarket
