Business Planning - Part 2

Professor Marc Clements - Vice Chancellor, University of Wales

As I update the Plan, I have just started working on the section 'Research & Development'.

This has always been a key part of Pingar's long term business strategy. We have invested heavily in R & D (with the support of The Foundation for Research Science & Technology) and our commitment to it is unrestrained.

Whilst, I was in the UK, I had the opportunity to spend 3 days in Wales. At the Swansea Technium, I met Professor Marc Clements. We talked about the Welsh Techniums (technology / business incubators) and their relationship with Welsh Universities. I spoke about my excellent experience of working with WaikatoLink (University of Waikato) here in NZ. I'm not sure whether it was the rugby, the sheep or the Brains beer, but I was not surprised to learn that 3 ex-University of Waikato lecturers were now based in the Computer Science Dept at the University of Swansea.

The trip to Wales was not accidental. I have been working for several months with Gareth Davies, Australasian Head of International Business Wales (IBW). We have developed a good relationship with IBW and other Welsh agencies and are looking at how to develop these relationships in the future.

The Technium concept is one that I like. It reminds me very much of the Innovation Park attached to Waikato University in Hamilton. In Wales, there are seven. In Tauranga, it would be nice to have one!