Being on the edge of the world has fostered a new way of looking at challenges – and New Zealanders are known for stretching themselves, going beyond the accepted wisdom, and following good ideas wherever they lead. Those values are reflected in unique and often world-leading technology and innovation.
TECH AND INNOVATION
By the numbers
6th
in Asia-Pacific
for Innovation
Source: Global Innovation Index, 2022
111%
increase in capital investment
in New Zealand Tech businesses in the last 12 months
Source: NZ Private Capital Monitor (2021)
2nd
for regulatory environment and
6th in ICT infrastructure
Source: Global Innovation Index (GII), 2021
48%
growth in early-stage investment
in New Zealand tech in the last year
Source: New Zealand Capital Growth Partners (NZGCP), TIN research
Learn more about New Zealand's strengths in tech and innovation
Global solutions
Proven innovations from New Zealand, boosted by international resources and networks, are a winning combination. Our tech businesses deliver at scale in markets around the world, from silicon chip production to healthcare and creative industries - and with nearly one fifth of New Zealanders based overseas, our tech network, infrastructure and ecosystem has worldwide reach.
Natural collaborators
When it's time to take on global markets, New Zealand tech businesses are ready to move faster, go further and work harder to make it happen. They're also natural collaborators, with an open way of working that enables highly effective commercial partnerships.
Open, trusted and stable
The open and honest approach that's integral to the New Zealand way of doing things also gives the country a famously stable, dependable and trustworthy business environment. The country's predictable and progressive regulatory environment can also quickly adapt to the needs of industry, making New Zealand an ideal location to test new ideas and deliver robust solutions.
Innovation from the edge
Isolation drove New Zealanders to become innovators. Creativity, practicality and a readiness to challenge convention became core facets of the New Zealand mindset. The world is now a great deal more connected, but this innovative approach continues, with New Zealand tech companies offering fresh perspectives, creative energy and the ability to find unexpected answers to old problems.
Sub-sectors of focus
New Zealand's traditional strengths in food production, growing strengths in tech, and a focus on sustainable solutions have resulted in a highly advanced and innovative agritech sector. Around 300 agritech companies are active in New Zealand, with NZ$1.4 billion in exports in 2018 and a compound annual growth rate of 4 percent – with substantial opportunity for further growth.
New Zealand farmers and growers have a commercially driven, data-led attitude that comes from running profit-based operations in tough environments and business conditions. As a result, locally developed agritech innovations have a strong focus on commercial return to end customers, giving them a strong value proposition in world markets.
Agritech expertise in New Zealand covers a huge range of landscapes and production sectors, from pastoral farming and dairy to arable cropping, horticulture and fresh produce, viticulture and aquaculture. Farmers and technologists are closely connected and form part of an innovation ecosystem that also includes researchers, government agencies, investors and entrepreneurs from around the world.
With funding models that inspire collaboration across sectors and industries, New Zealand is a great place for turning breakthrough agritech ideas into reality. The country is also a natural agritech accelerator for the world, thanks to opposing seasons that give Northern Hemisphere R&D partners twice the ramp time each year.
Healthtech is the biggest secondary technology sector in New Zealand, generating NZ$1.8 billion of revenue and a five-year compound annual growth rate of 10 percent in 2018. With deep scientific and commercial expertise, New Zealand's healthtech sector is strong and will continue to contribute world-leading technologies to address the health needs of citizens across the globe.
Brands such as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Douglas Pharmaceuticals are well-established success stories in global markets. Other pioneers such as Volpara, Aroa Biosurgery and Pacific Edge are leading a new generation of global healthtech companies developed in New Zealand.
The ease of doing business in New Zealand, strong investor protection, and a highly stable and efficient government, also reinforce New Zealand's advantage as a destination for international healthtech investors.
Contact our Investment team
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