A new scheme designed to build stronger links between Small and Medium Enterprises and New Zealand’s largest Institutes of Technologies and Polytechnics was launched last night (May 6).

The Voucher Scheme is an initiative of the Metro Group, made up of the country’s six biggest ITPs – Unitec, Manukau Institute of Technology, Waikato Institute of Technology, Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec), Christchurch Polytechnic (CPIT) and Otago Polytechnic.

The scheme is a funding programme to allow SMEs and NGOs to tap into the research capability the institutes hold, and will see grants of up to $5,000 provided to a business willing to match that amount to create a research project. There is also space for not-for-profits and community groups to have the research fully funded by an institution.

Closer links between the institutes and the industries, government agencies and community groups they work with will have benefits for all parties. Researchers gain valuable experience from working on projects that are answering specific questions for industry, while external partners receive funding, support and guidance on research projects.

One recent project had WelTec assisting Creek Grange ACE Limited to adapt an already successful product for new markets. The company had developed a gas-powered projectile used for avalanche control in New Zealand and many countries overseas and had been approached to see if the device could be modified to control weeds and gorse in difficult-to-access areas and for wider coverage. This became a research and development project, ideal for Wellington Institute of Technology New Zealand Diploma in Engineering student, James Wu (who is now working as an R&D Engineer at Miracle Electronic). As a result of this collaboration, a new electronic activator was developed by WelTec for field testing.