BusinessDay: Tech centre plans to be clean ahead of game

Catherine Harris writes in BusinessDay about a clean tech “centre of excellence” to be established in Otaki.

Clean tech is of increasing interest not only for its environmental benefits, but also its potential economic benefits.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“Clean tech is a lot of the stuff we’re already doing intuitively,” says Investment New Zealand’s clean tech specialist Chris Mulcare. “But here’s a definition: products, processes or services that use energy and resources more efficiently with a lower environmental footprint.”

“The technology park, tipped to open in October, will bring together start-ups, research institutes, commercialisation experts and young researchers.

“Negotiations as to who will take a desk there are still underway but Massey University, Industrial Research, Weltec, Victoria University and Land Information’s geospatial unit have expressed interest or support.

“Six companies, Kapiti Coast District Council and local Maori tertiary institution Te Wananga o Raukawa will also be involved.

“Even Nasa, America’s space agency, is interested in using Otaki to showcase its algae-to-oil technology.”