Topic:A New Zealand Project in University-Industry Research Partnership: Tamaki Campus


Lecturer:Professor Ralph Cooney
Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Time: 9:00 am Apr.15,2008

Place:B203

Abstract:

Tamaki Campus of the University of Auckland has been developed since 2003 as a national knowledge economy site for University-Government Laboratory-Industry research partnership. The campus is mainly post-graduate (>50%) and interdisciplinary, and is based around a number of research clusters:
• Materials: Polymers, Conducting Polymers & Composites;
• Health: Health Innovation & Health Informatics;
• Population Health: A Longitudinal Study of Child Development;
• Environment: Biosecurity & Biodiversity;
• Wine: Wine Science and
• Sports: Sports and Exercise Science (including Olympic athletes).
For example, the Materials Cluster has very close R&D partnerships with the Aeronautical, Marine, Construction, Plastics and Packaging, Medical Materials industry sectors. It has a growing interest in sustainable materials. Tamaki Campus has attracted a very high level of both contestable Government research funding and industry co-funding.

A major new project at Tamaki Campus is a proposal to Government titled “The Auckland Innovation Centre (AIC)” which is conceived as a research-based Science and Technology Park (STP) with an initial focus on industrial materials. This proposal is a response to the Government strategy seeking Economic Transformation in Auckland. The AIC and Tamaki Campus is located at the centre of the largest urban re-development in the history of New Zealand. The AIC Science Park concept will be informed by international models in Finland (Technopolis), the UK (Cambridge Science Park), the USA (North Carolina Innovation Triangle), Asia (Singapore Science Park) and many others. A key objective of this visit is to learn from the experiences of China which already has many Science Parks, and is planning many more.

Tamaki Campus is one of four campuses of the University of Auckland, which is ranked 50th in the world by THES, and also is ranked the top research University in New Zealand by the Government.

Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and has 33% of the population and is also the commercial hub of New Zealand with 70% of the business HQs. The major industry sectors in Auckland are Manufacturing & Materials, ICT and Biotechnology.

About the Lecturer:

Career Experience: University of Auckland
1991-1992 Head of Department of Chemistry
1993-2001 Dean of Science (600FTE and 13 Departments)
2001- Head of the Tamaki Campus & Pro Vice Chancellor

Professional Memberships:
• Member of the NZ Institute of Directors
• Fellow of the Royal Society of NZ
• Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• Fellow of the NZ Institute of Chemistry
• Member of the New York Academy of Sciences (USA)
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)

International Activities:
• Chair of Universitas21 Deans of Science Meeting (1998-2001)
• Chair of NZ University Science Council (1997-2001)
• NZ representative on the Council of AINSE (1994-2001)

Government Advisor:
• Ministerial advisor (MoRST/MFAT): International Science & Technology Advisory Committee (1995-1998)
• Ministerial advisor (MoRST): Government strategy RST 2010
• Chair of Health Research Council-FRST reference group on IIOF
• University contact with MoRST regarding Nanotechnology Roadmap

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