KPMG and Massey University forge closer ties

Massey University and professional services company KPMG have formed a research partnership to share knowledge and foster innovation. The agreement is the first private sector partnership under a new Massey initiative called the Auckland Knowledge Exchange Hub.

The head of the University’s College of Business, Professor Ted Zorn, says a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialisation is behind the new initiative, which will make it easier for businesses to develop strong research partnerships with Massey.

“The Auckland Knowledge Exchange Hub will build on the investment we have already made in the ecentre business incubator, the Innovator-in-Residence programme, and the Centre for Small and Medium Enterprise Research,” Professor Zorn says.

“It will provide a two-way link between the University and key stakeholders for transferring knowledge and ideas – and it is that exchange of knowledge that is critical for fostering innovation. Partnerships with major corporations like KPMG mean our research will contribute to New Zealand’s economic development.”

The agreement has already produced tangible results through KPMG’s annual Financial Institutions Performance Survey. This year’s survey contained additional analysis by Massey researchers, including a detailed forecast of the performance of the financial sector for the first time.

“Combining our resources with Massey has enabled us to combine business insights and academic rigour to deliver more useful thought leadership to our clients,” KPMG partner Ben van Delden says. “KPMG sees our partnership role with the Auckland Knowledge Exchange Hub as a critical contribution to fuelling prosperity for the Auckland region.”

The agreement will connect KPMG with the University’s top researchers, creating opportunities for Massey’s staff and students to work on applied, real-world research questions. The relationship will also open up pathways into commercial careers for students.

Professor in Innovation and Economics Christoph Schumacher, who manages the relationship with KPMG, says the partnership shows the importance of engaging with businesses.

“Companies have all these research questions they want answered and Massey has fantastic researchers. It is important to create two-way communication so you inspire and produce research that is useful and relevant to the business community,” Professor Schumacher says.

“This is very different to what a research centre does. A research centre focuses on a specific area; they do their research, and then disseminate the information.”

Professor Schumacher is a co-director of the Auckland Knowledge Exchange Hub and responsible for developing partnerships with the private sector. His colleague, Professor Paul Spoonley from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will lead the hub’s public sector engagement, and research has already been completed on ethnic precincts for the Auckland Council.