By: Staff Writer
November 24, Colombo (LNW): New Zealand government agency, NZ Product Accelerator (NZPA) charged with helping businesses overseas is ramping up efforts to strengthen ties with Sri Lanka by providing expertise and connections to help develop and commercialise new products and technologies, a senior expert of the agency divulged
It is ready to connect in areas like manufacturing, design innovation, and agricultural technologies with research expertise to address industry or market needs and, at the same time, try and accelerate the development of innovative products and processes in the country, a Senior Materials Expert at the NZPA Dr Karnika De Silva said.
She was in the island on a short visit to establish contacts and help Sri Lankan businesses identify and connect with relevant research expertise within New Zealand’s network.
In doing so, the NZPA brings together over 100 experts from nine research organizations, i.e., 7 universities across New Zealand, facilitating this integration, she disclosed.
“We also tap into our national network of over 300 researchers across eight universities and Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) to identify the right mix of expertise, capabilities, and facilities” Dr Karnika said. .
The New Zealand manufacturing industry is a SME based economy with only a few vertically integrated large companies, so any Innovative technologies by SME will have a significant contribution to the economic growth, she explained
“The NZ Product Accelerator helps businesses, especially SMEs, to define and de-risk their R&D investments, delivering practical solutions faster.
In this contex, EML Consultants Sri Lanka has entered into an agreement with NZPA to adopt its model into its operations through collaboration
This process includes introducing advanced manufacturing through NZ Product Accelerator expertise in automation, digital twins, sensing, robotics, and implementing “AI” in manufacturing, monitoring air pollution, and making sustainable material choices to meet economic, social, and environmental challenges in manufacturing.
EML connects directly with NZPA with relevant NZ research expertise in materials, manufacturing, process integration, or bio-innovation to deliver the test pilot solutions collectively, so that EML can scale or implement its regional projects, in collaboration with or without NZPA.
“In addition, we can introduce our supply chain or value chain stakeholders to EMl for fast delivery of the targeted objectives to their clients” she said.
This collaboration allows EML to tap into NZ’s deep science and engineering expertise within a wider network of expertise in NZ as a one-stop shop while building a track record of inclusive, high-impact innovation in developing markets—delivering mutual benefit to both parties and the communities in both countries they serve.
