Innovation takes us exciting places
Techweek’18 is Christchurch’s chance to showcase the city’s technology achievements, writes Anna Elphick.
OPINION: The technological revolution is affecting every aspect of life, with Christchurch businesses at the forefront of innovation in an ever-changing world.
It is estimated that within the next 20 years, 50 per cent to 80 per cent of jobs as we currently know them will be affected by technological advances.
New Zealand is a nation of small businesses – 473,846 in total, according to KPMG.
Ninety-seven per cent of those have fewer than 20 employees, 96 per cent are sole traders, and 34 per cent are small and medium-sized businesses that have been operating for less than six years.
Small businesses might struggle to make an impact on the global stage but they have the advantage of being highly adaptive and agile.
And here in Christchurch we have a real opportunity to make our mark on the world as a city of exploration and new ideas.
At a civic scale we are embracing change and carving out a niche for ourselves in transport, foods, space and Antarctic exploration.
In the last month alone, we have been at the forefront of the launch of the world’s first self-piloted air taxi, have seen the start of a citywide electric car-sharing scheme, and have been involved in research with Ohmio Technologies into autonomous vehicles.
Christchurch’s tech sector is the second largest in the country, employing more than 15,000 people and contributing $2.4 billion to the region’s GDP.
Every year our tech businesses contribute more than $1 billion to New Zealand’s export earnings.
Techweek’18 will be upon us in May. It is a festival to showcase our expertise and encourage future generations to consider what is to come, and this year it is all about innovation.
We are already doing it in Christchurch with transport, but we are also realising our potential in space and Antarctic exploration. We have been a gateway to the Antarctic since the 1900s but we now have a huge opportunity to leverage our position, thanks to technological change.
We can lead the world on extreme environment navigation, equipment and research and development.
Christchurch is home to the inaugural New Zealand Space Challenge, which brings together some of the brightest minds from across the country to use space data and intelligence to solve navigation issues in Antarctica.
This challenge culminates during the Techweek’18 Extreme Environments – from the Antarctic to Space conference, where local, national and international experts will further explore how the Antarctic is a dry run for space exploration and the opportunities this generates.
This event is followed by an international ‘‘space hackathon’’ initiated by the French Space Agency and supported by the European Space Agency.
Christchurch is one of 70 cities across five continents participating with the Centre for Space Science Technology, and the New Zealand Space Agency has chosen to partner with ChristchurchNZ to deliver this event.
The hackathon – ActInSpace – brings together entrepreneurs, students, jobseekers, and developers to imagine and design services and products that find everyday uses for space technologies.
The winning Christchurch team will represent New Zealand at the international finals.
Techweek’18 is a festival for our businesses to showcase their achievements.
There’s everything from robots and virtual reality to kids helping Nasa prepare for life on Mars. It is well worth a look.
Small businesses might struggle to make an impact on the global stage but they have the advantage of being highly adaptive and agile.