Priority One, with the University of Waikato and a group of eight Bay of Plenty hort-tech companies, has put in a bid for government funding to encourage regional research and innovation. The partners are aiming to create an innovation lab, with the working title of the Centre for Design Innovation Technology and Horticulture. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) last November announced a second round of funding for the regional initiative, first announced in Budget 2015. "The initiative allows local businesses to partner with us and Waikato University to obtain research and development outcomes that really need to happen." Key criteria for regional research funding includes:* Established and maintained as private or private not-for-profit organisations.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 02, 2017 01:38 UTC