Prof. George Benwell

Professor of Information Science,
Dean (Research) School of Business
UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

George L. Benwell is a Professor in the Department of Information Science, and Dean of Research for the School of Business at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. His areas of research and teaching are focused on spatial information processing and analysis and land and health related information systems. George has been involved with research in Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Canada, Fiji, England, America, Malaysia and Tonga, and has published over 250 research papers and articles. He is also coordinator of the Institute for Health GeoInformatics in New Zealand.

Speaker Notes

Using Innovative Technology and Strategic Relationships to Achieve Worldwide Success in a Niche Market

Why it is important to work together

1. Increases research revenue and national and international profile for the University.
2. Increases employment prospects for students.
3. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) make up the vast majority of New Zealand businesses but are research constrained due to size and cashflow. Alliance overcomes these issues.
4. Improves teaching material and case study learning - "real examples".
5. Increases expert potential of IT and software applications.
6. Unlocks IP potential in universities.
7. Alliances marry innovation and ideas (universities) with production and management (business).
8. New Zealand needs to build SME IT companies to compete and the ingredients partly reside in business and universities.
9. Retains bright young graduates in the country -reduces "brain drain".

The case studies

All four case studies involve the Department of Information Science over a number of years. Status:

1. Topoclimate South

Matured from a Southland Trust funded sunset company to an international consulting company. (We assisted with technology and professional advice - also heavy involvement from the Department of Geography.) Advice by the departments of Information Science and Geography are ongoing.
2. Sound Communications
Joint-venture start up, developing IP from the Department. Very early stages and moving slowly. Ongoing.
3. e-Media Limited
Directorship and corporate advice. Established company expanding. Close association for student jobs and take-up of new research outcomes.
4. Compudigm International
Advice and encouragement to "have a go" and set up the initial company. Long standing mentor advice and Technology New Zealand projects.

The barriers faced

• Lack of understanding that universities and businesses are different.
  
• Seed capital - fast approval, high risk.
• Low baseline starting point - not many good case studies.
• International slowdown in IT.
• International corporations don't want research and development done in New Zealand.
• Difficult to get good quality research students.
• Lack of research investment by business.
• It is "all new" and we are still learning.
• A company has never come and asked us to help develop an idea - lack of awareness.

1. Have we got it right at present?
2. Should there be a tax break for businesses developing IP?
3. Are our IP development strategies focussed on the short or long-term gains?
4. Are our policies and incentives a barrier?
5. We academics are not good entrepreneurs! We expect them to be, but according to Shi academics are only providers of public good IP - they produce academic capital for their own reward but rarely economic capital for wealth creation.