Medtech

Why Auckland?

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is the powerhouse of New Zealand’s tech sector, accounting for 55 per cent of revenue or some $8 billion earned by the country’s top 200 technology export companies, according to the Technology Investment Network (TIN) in 2022. Twenty medtech companies feature in the top 200 firms, of which a dozen are Auckland-based. Further guidance can be found in the Investor’s Guide to the New Zealand Technology Sector, sponsored by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

Proven centre of excellence

A MedTech Centre of Research Excellence operating in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland from 2016 to 2021 saw $3.6 million used to seed opportunities, resulting in the formation of 20 companies. Today, 11 of those are still operating, providing around 145 jobs and receiving $80 million in investment, with a total business value of $220 million. And now there’s a new research network in operation (see below). In Auckland, deep tech companies are growing from their university roots where technical experts can find clinical partners. There’s a focus on personalisation, considered the future of healthcare, where it’s thought wearable devices are the first step in an alternative model.

Strong, connected ecosystem

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is home to the University of Auckland, its associated medical school and the Auckland University of Technology, among other universities. Together with Callaghan Innovation, they're part of a national industry-research network formed together with the Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT) and MedTech Research Network. This community of world-leading researchers, clinicians, industry partners and other collaborators has created a virtual medtech innovation precinct, MedTechIQ Aotearoa, which spans the country’s regional health hubs, and a NZ Health Tech Ecosystem Pathfinder Map.

Funding 

Funders include Callaghan Innovation, KiwiNet and Return on Science. Callaghan has an initiative called the HealthTech Activator to de-risk and accelerate commercialisation of the medtech industry. KiwiNet represents the combined research expenditure of 19 universities, Crown Research Institutes and other publicly funded research organisations. Return on Science connects science and technology with top-tier advice and guidance and efficient access to capital. There are also programmes run through Te Titoki Mataora Medtech Research Translator, and active incubators, angel investors and venture capitalists.