In this issue
- BioTechNZ news and highlights
- Government submissions
- What’s happening around the country?
- Biotech mentors/mentees
- BioTechNZ wants to hear your success stories from 2021
It is weird to think this is the last couple of weeks before Christmas. It has been a tough year with 107 days in lockdown for Auckland, which makes it all the more challenging running a membership organisation. Again, thank you to all our members who have supported us throughout 2021, via membership, actively presenting or participating in our networking events, providing feedback regarding the needs of the industry, and helping with the content for our submissions.
BioTechNZ news and highlights
Throughout the year, BioTechNZ has celebrated the achievements and successes of its members in these newsletters. Looking back, here’s what BioTechNZ, itself, has been up to:
Conference presentations
Agcarm: Biotechnology – Healing, Fuelling and Feeding the World
Networking events
- Building our Dunedin biotech ecosystem
- New therapeutic uses for existing drugs
- Where digital and life sciences converge to create transformational technology
- Harnessing insects’ powerful sense of smell
- CleanTech Innovations in New Zealand
- Cellular agriculture
- Advances in crop biocontrol
Media
Biotech
- Media programme around the launch of BioTechNZ’s report AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND BOOSTED BY BIOTECH: Innovating for a Sustainable Future
- Biotech driving the future of clean food
- NZ should move to low nicotine cigarettes
- Fear of GMOs goes up in smoke | NBR
- Biotech research helping medical, environmental areas
Medicinal Cannabis
- Softcopy of Media Solutions’ 2021 Year Book: Innovation, Issues & Opportunity – Blueprint for a new normal; New Zealand to become a medicinal centre of excellence feature on page 26 & 27.
- Media Release Archives – MedCan Summit
BioTechNZ Government submissions
- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill
- Long-term Insights Briefing – consultation document (Te Tari Taiwhenua/Internal Affairs)
- Innovate and Shape the Future of Biodiversity (Te Papa Atawhai/Department of Conservation)
- Emissions Reduction Plan (Manatū Mō Te Taiao/Ministry for the Environment)
- Definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques (Te Mana Kounga Kai – Ahitereiria me Aotearoa/Food Standards Australia New Zealand)
- Pae Ora (Healthy Reforms) Bill
2022 Submissions – BioTechNZ
There are a number of submissions that require a wider discussion, such as Te Ara Paerangi – Future pathways) – due 2 March 2022. We will engage with our members on this early next year.
Grow Wellington Contestable Fund – a win!
Grow Wellington has provided funding to BioTechNZ for the next three years to establish an annual conference – NZ Life Sciences Summit – to build the biotech ecosystem. Watch this space for further updates
BioTechNZ Mentors/Mentees
Both the BioTechNZ Executive Committee and its members are keen to give back to the biotech community. If you are interested in being a mentor or being mentored, please get in touch with me. We are starting a new programme in the new year that will connect mentors and mentees.
What’s happening around the country?
KiwiNet Awards
Congratulations to the 2021 Kiwinet winners, and a special shout-out to our very own BioTechNZ Executive Council member Greg Pringle, Senior Commercialisation Manager at Plant & Food Research (Plant & Food Research, commercial partner UPL, with the support of Zespri and Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH)) for their new biocontrol product Aureo® Gold, which won the Commercial Impact Award.
MedCan Summit
10-11 February 2022
Don’t miss out! Early bird pricing for MedCan Summit 2022 ends on 17 December. BioTechNZ members receive an additional 25% off the early bird price. Please contact us to receive the discount code for BioTechNZ members. Register now.
BioTechNZ wants to hear your success stories from 2021
Several BioTechNZ members made us aware of their news these past few weeks. Please share your news and celebrations with us at info@biotechnz.org.nz. We would love to include a roundup on our website highlighting what the biotech sector achieved in 2021.
That’s a wrap!
Have a great break over the summer holidays and recharge the batteries. Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
Zahra Champion
Executive Director