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Tēnā koutou katoa,
Thank you for inviting me to join you today.
Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa, AUT Council Members, leadership, AUT Ventures staff and the start up community joining us here this morning – I appreciate your warm welcome.
It’s a real pleasure to help launch the AUT Innovation Fund.
This fund is exactly the kind of initiative we want to see more of under the Government’s Going for Growth plan. New Zealand needs to back smart ideas, new technology, and the people behind them. That’s how we create better jobs, stronger businesses, and a more diverse economy.
Our universities are central to this. They’re not just places of teaching and learning—they’re also where innovation happens. That’s why I’m pleased to see this fund focusing on turning research into real-world outcomes, including new companies, products, and services.
It’s also good to see the fund supports sharing the benefits with researchers and students through intellectual property. When people know their ideas can go somewhere—and that they’ll be recognised and rewarded—it encourages creativity, ambition, and impact.
AUT already has a track record in this space through AUT Ventures. It’s great to see that work now expanding, with new backing to support ideas like Spherelose and businesses like Conical. These are just some of the early examples of what’s possible.
As Minister for Universities—and also for Science, Innovation and Technology—I see a big opportunity to better connect our universities with the wider research and business community. That’s why we’re making some of the biggest changes to our science system in 30 years. And we’re doing it in a way that recognises the vital role universities play.
At the same time, we’re also updating the Tertiary Education Strategy—a roadmap for the future of our universities and vocational providers. It will set out the Government’s priorities for the sector and the changes we’d like to see over the next few years.
We expect to focus on four main areas:
Access and Participation – making sure people from all backgrounds can get the skills they need.
Achievement – supporting students to complete their study and succeed afterwards.
Impact and Innovation – making sure research and teaching support the economy and wider society.
Integration and Collaboration – encouraging stronger links between universities, business, and other research groups.
We’re also considering a fifth area: international partnerships, to grow our global connections.
Early engagement is already underway, including with Universities New Zealand. Wider consultation will follow later this year.
I know the changes underway in the sector are big. I want to acknowledge that. But small steps won’t deliver the kind of transformation New Zealand needs—especially in how we grow our economy and support our people.
We’ve always had world-class ideas in this country. The challenge has been turning them into world-class outcomes that benefit New Zealanders. The AUT Innovation Fund is a practical step toward solving that challenge—taking great ideas and helping them go further.
So, I want to thank AUT for stepping up, and I look forward to seeing what comes from this work.
Ngā mihi nui, and all the best for the fund and its future success.
