Innovation that's good for the world at Techweek'18

In 2018, Techweek is focusing its stories and event programme on one simple idea: Innovation that’s good for the world.

Why?

Following the success of the Techweek’17 focus on finding local answers to global questions, we spent months researching New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem to uncover the things that make it unique. Here are a couple of things we now know to be true:

• New Zealand innovators are purpose-driven and focused on finding solutions to challenges faced locally and globally.

• We have a legacy of global technology and innovation success that’s forged a path for the next generation of innovators.
• Our culture of innovation and ingenious ecosystem is deeply connected across sectors and cities. 
• New Zealand’s remote location has, by necessity, created a culture of creative thinking that rewards truly unique solutions. 
• Our country is small, progressive and stable, making it the ideal testing ground for ideas with impact.

There’s so much to celebrate here, and it’s our mission at Techweek to do just that, but we’ve chosen the first point as our rallying cry because it makes us so so proud.

We are proud that New Zealand is known for innovative thinking that’s good for the world, and we're ready to take these stories global.

After getting on board with Techweek’17, the government’s lead business-facing agency the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is back this year as our principal sponsor. MBIE’s goal is to grow New Zealand for all – simply, to grow the New Zealand economy to provide a better standard of living for all New Zealanders. MBIE works with others to help business to be more competitive, improve job opportunities and ensure quality housing is more affordable.

As our third largest export, which employs close to 100,000 people and contributes about $16.2 billion to the economy, the tech sector is increasingly important to the New Zealand economy.

MBIE is investing in Techweek’18 to promote the New Zealand tech sector internationally to grow exports from New Zealand tech sector firms, raise New Zealand’s international profile with investors and skilled tech professionals, increase the uptake of ICT across all firms in order to improve productivity, develop the capability needed to support continued tech sector growth and raise awareness of the need for greater ICT skills and a ‘tech- savvy culture’ with all New Zealanders.

As a nationwide festival aimed at promoting and celebrating New Zealand technology and innovation, Techweek’18 will help MBIE achieve these aims.