SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Launched in April 2021, Te Ipu o te Mahara, the University’s Artificial Intelligence Institute takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to the development of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) research. The team is focused on real-time analytics for big data, machine learning and deep learning, building on 25 years of internationally recognised research and the development of some of the world’s most popular open source tools. The Institute’s goal is to build awareness and expertise across disciplines to better leverage AI for the benefit of communities.

This annual Engineering Design Show is the flagship event of the School of Engineering and allows industry to see firsthand how our students are excelling in designing, building and testing new products, structures and solutions for the real world.

We have a dedicated Research & Enterprise Office focused on creating value from research discoveries and innovation. The team works with both University researchers and external partners, including government, industry and community organisations, to extend research capability and broaden partnership opportunities that foster collaborative research, the implementation of research findings, and knowledge and technology transfer.

The safety of our online lives was brought into sharp focus in 2021 with sophisticated cybersecurity events bringing a number of large organisations to a standstill and compromising personal data on a massive scale. We are proud to have been on the cutting edge of cybersecurity research for many years and recently have seen great progress with our spin-off company First Watch, which develops and licenses cybersecurity software for industrial control systems. The company recently secured investment to the value of about $3.2 million from investors in CTEK Ltd to take the first product from proof-of-concept to first sale.

As reflected in its academic offerings, the Waikato Management School is underscored by a commitment to innovation - advancing innovation and entrepreneurial practice, developing leaders with a passion and expertise in leading innovation, and enabling individuals and organisations to succeed through the power of innovation. They also have a distinctive presence at our Tauranga campus where they apply this expertise to areas like emerging export-oriented industries, agri-technology, and marine systems.