NZ tech trends take off
outlines what he believes will be some of the innovations expected this year.
This year is set to be another 12 months of technology bringing new ways of doing things and disrupting the status quo. The likes of Industry 4.0 – the First Industrial Revolution on steroids – will continue impacting every industry.
The trick to New Zealand thriving through these developments is how curious, adventurous and collaborative we are.
With this in mind, and in no particular order, here are the business tech trends our Callaghan Innovation crew see really taking off.
Space tech and precision data
The democratisation of space represents one of the biggest opportunities for Kiwi entrepreneurs, with garage innovators now taking on huge and deep-pocketed international players such as Nasa.
Expect more Kiwi innovators to join Rocket Lab on the international stage. Only recently, Dawn Aerospace – started by two New Zealand brothers – raised $3.35 million for its rockets, designed to carry small satellites into space.
But the true golden space opportunity lies in the vast amount of data supplied by new satellites in orbit, particularly Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. This data and its accuracy will propel a phenomenal amount of innovation and research – from measuring waterway and forest health, to disaster response, precision farming and optimised transport. If we want to realise this potential, space innovators must be open to collaboration.
Artificial Intelligence
As AI progress quickens, machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing will set the benchmark for automation and data-driven computing. New Zealand has some of the world’s top AI scientists and companies such as Soul Machines and FaceMe will continue securing corporate customers and raising investment from the likes of Sir Stephen Tindall.
Bioplastics
Plant-based and/or biodegradable plastics are firmly in the frame to make their mark in 2019. The rise of ethical consumerism and antiplastic sentiment means alternatives, such as Humble Bee’s non-toxic waterproof bioplastic, are attracting worldwide attention and investment. The challenge with bioplastics is to understand new material options, especially their sustainability trade-offs.
‘‘Greenwashing’’ is always a risk and, for some situations, longuse and reusable options might be better, ie, ’’the circular economy. With the help of serious materials science, Auckland-based FoodCap is creating reusable bulk storage containers for specific foods such as raw meat. As consumers have taken a step adjusting to reusable bags, businesses must also do more with less behind-the-scenes.
Blockchain
As the financial hype settles and people understand the wide potential of distributed ledgers, new applications will emerge. Look out for streamlined supply chains that guarantee the origin and quality of food products from farm to plate. With our trusted reputation, New Zealand is picked as a global centre for blockchain innovation.
Smart packaging
The rise of smart packaging, mainly sensor enabled, will complement the rise of plastic alternatives. Smart packaging innovation allows food and other products to be tracked right from origin to the end consumer while recording quality, movement and temperature information, and also helping extend product life.
With an economy highly reliant on our high-quality, pure and sustainable brand, smart packaging will help food exporters, in particular, deliver these expectations, while stamping out counterfeits. The challenge will be building the digital foundations.
3D printing
Ease of access to 3D printing via entities like Addlab in Lower Hutt will transform the design and prototyping phases of new product research and development. With applications across every economic sector, it will liberate the way we procure parts and products.
Autonomous vehicles and robotics
HMI Technologies has demonstrated New Zealand can punch above its weight in the autonomous vehicle space with its Ohmio intelligent shuttles sought after for Korean and Chinese smart cities. Following Christchurch Airport’s lead, New Zealand businesses will want to trial autonomous vehicles on site.
Expect to see more noise around autonomous sea-going vehicles – submarines as well as boats. They will drive innovation in smart aquaculture and autonomous shipping, which is advancing quickly and transforming logistics.
Rugged robotics and adaptive learning robotic systems will help address labour shortages and safety issues in farming and horticulture. Some of our top scientists are developing cuttingedge solutions being sold by the likes of Robotics Plus into huge farming industries such as the US. Support with research, preparation and integration will be key for wider adoption.
Alternative proteins
These are a considerable threat to the red meat and dairy sector, but also a significant opportunity.
New Zealand is well placed to lead in protein food science, but what is often overlooked is the opportunity to better leverage our unique farm to plate story.
Alternative fertilisers
Our farming practices are under the microscope more than ever so expect to see the rise of fertiliser alternatives to superphosphates.
Again, driven by the rise of ethical consumers who are also considering the impacts of sourcing phosphate from troubled parts of Africa.
Alternative fertilisers rely on organic sources of phosphorous such as manures, effluents and byproducts of anaerobic digestion bioenergy plants.
New Zealand businesses such as AgriSea (seaweed), BioChar Fertilisers (charcoal), and Eko360 Environmental Products (controlled release) will continue to pave the way.
AR/VR
With Kiwis such as Mark Billinghurst pioneering worldleading augmented reality research out of the University of Auckland, New Zealand is in a prime position to drive the ongoing development of empathetic computing.
Lab on a chip (LOC)
These tiny chips with one or several laboratory functions are helping innovators achieve automation and high-throughput in bio screening. Low-cost 3D printing and laser engraving are making the manufacture of LOCs cheaper and easier, allowing more exciting technologies to emerge.
Locally, nanoscientist
Dr Natalie Plank, from Victoria is developing a fertility testing LOC set to make it more widely accessible and Christchurch startup CertusBio’s device helps customers make better decisions with real-time, location-specific bio analysis.