Beijing partnership for e-centre

The University’s business incubator, the e-centre, has entered into a partnership with Beijing’s Hi-tech International Business Incubator (HTIBI) to provide a new route into China for technology-based New Zealand firms. 

The three-year Memorandum of Understanding will facilitate business match-ups, technology transfer, shared market information and provide easier access and support to New Zealand companies.

Providing access to 76 Beijing business incubators, HTIBI is currently operating in several countries including Canada, France, Spain and Singapore, offering small and medium-sized enterprises access to Chinese business opportunities and a contact for companies wanting to establish a presence there.

E-centre chief executive Steve Corbett says the relationship struck with HTIBI follows the success of another e-centre partnership which over the last 18 months has enabled six New Zealand companies to enter Indian markets.

“We are delighted to be able to offer our New Zealand business partners direct access to major global markets and to offer them market intelligence. Technology is increasingly fluid and global. With this partnership we want to help New Zealand firms increase exports and also add value to technology that we attract from overseas partners.

“While the MOU is with the e-centre, we have agreed with HTIBI that the arrangement can be extended to other New Zealand based incubators and technology companies. We see this as an opportunity for any New Zealand technology company wanting to expand into Asia,” Mr Corbett says.

HTBI chief executive Kash Zhang says the e-centre was chosen as a leading business incubator in New Zealand.

“We are impressed by the gains the e-centre has made in spin-off business incubation and internationalisation, and see very good mutual opportunities in working closely together.”

In 2006 the e-centre established an exclusive New Zealand partnership, CMCTEC, with CMC, a subsidiary of the Tata group, to promote sharing of technology and market information to help New Zealand businesses enter the Indian market.