Media Statement

Nobel Prize Winner confirmed for Innovation celebration

5 February 2002

New Zealand born chemist and Nobel laureate Alan MacDiarmid will next month share with other New Zealanders what he did that makes him a world class innovator.

Professor MacDiarmid is the latest addition to a line-up of high profile New Zealand innovators who will participate in the Government's Innovate event in Christchurch next month.

Professor MacDiarmid, a world renowned scientist in 'synthetic metals', won the 2000 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery and development of electronically conductive polymers.

The discovery is having important applications in coloured light emitting displays, the photographic and film industry and potential flexible television screens. It is also likely to play a major role in the development of new electronic devices.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton says it's a privilege to secure someone of such high international standing for Innovate.

"It is a huge honour that Professor MacDiarmid will share details of his research and experience at Innovate," he says.

Professor MacDiarmid will focus on two key themes central to New Zealand's future prosperity: the process of creating businesses based on innovative ideas and the actions New Zealand can take to ensure it gets the best from its innovators, whether they are in New Zealand or overseas.

Innovate, to be held in Christchurch from 5-7 March, will hear from some of New Zealand's best known innovators, entrepreneurs and business people telling of how they turned great ideas into successful business and the key tools behind business development.

Born and educated in New Zealand and now Blanchard Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, Prof. MacDiarmid has become a Member of the Order of New Zealand, which is limited to just 20 people at any one time.

Mr Anderton says, "Professor MacDiarmid's work is transforming the electronics industry. He is the inventor of more than 20 issued patents over the last 25 years and is closely associated with a fledgling business involving technological transfer of his patents. It is fitting that he present to an event aimed at showcasing and celebrating the best of New Zealand innovation and how it can be used to transform business and the economy."

Prof. MacDiarmid has retained his ties with New Zealand, and has been working with colleagues at the Industrial Research Laboratories amongst others.

Innovate is led by the Ministry of Economic Development, with the support of Industry New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri and principal sponsor University of Otago.

Registrations for Innovate opened on Friday and interest in the event is high.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Wendy Pannett, NBPR
Phone 04 917 0380 Mobile 021 440 898
Email wpannett@nbpr.co.nz

or

Sam Fisher [press secretary] 021 714209, 04 471 9289
email: sam.fisher@parliament.govt.nz
www.executive.govt.nz/minister/anderton/index.html or www.alliance.org.nz