Media release from Bayer

Auckland, Thursday, August 26 Four of New Zealand's leading lights have been acknowledged for their contributions to innovation at the 2010 Bayer Innovators Awards.

The Bayer Innovators Awards are designed to identify the country's best and brightest innovators, who this year are representatives from the biotech, research, engineering and agricultural sectors.

Winners were presented with their awards by the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman.

Award categories and winners are as follows:

Science and Health: Dr Azam Ali, senior scientist in the bio-based materials science team at AgResearch's Lincoln Research Centre. His work focuses on utilising and reengineering bio-based materials into various products, notably wound care devices.

Design and Engineering: Jeremy Turner, product development manager at Tauranga based company Stella Performance Ltd. He is responsible for the design of the company's medical hardware used in high-level disinfection of medical equipment.

Agriculture and the Environment: Dr Robert Hill, Principal Research Officer at the Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University. He leads a programme that focuses on developing biologically-based inoculants that protect plantation trees against disease.

Research and Development: Professor Simon Hall, Head of Chemistry, Massey University. A professor in electrochemistry, he has invented a new zinc electrode for rechargeable batteries, making them more environmentally friendly.  

Joerg Ellmanns, said it was important to acknowledge not only innovation, but the people leading these endeavours in New Zealand.

"I firmly believe that innovation is vitally important to business success, not only for individual companies, but also for countries as a whole.

"Behind every great creative advancement, there is an individual - an innovator, and it is those people that we recognised through the Bayer Innovators Awards."

Mr Ellmanns added that Bayer had increased its global research and development spending to the equivalent of approximately 5.5 billion New Zealand dollars, the largest amount in Bayer's history.

"This investment is designed to drive our growth and create innovations that hold potential for the future, thereby safeguarding jobs and prosperity - even if the fruits of these efforts will not be evident for many years."

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman acknowledged Bayer's support of innovation and urged continued focus on investment, research and development.

"Economic researchers are pretty unanimous in showing that in the 21st century, investment in R&D is the necessary precursor to sustained economic development and all its associated social and environmental benefits," he said.

"[Governments] must ensure a well-trained workforce, equipped to live in an innovative society. They should identify and encourage those individuals with the particular set of talents that drive innovation."

Held annually, the Bayer Innovators Awards are now in their third year. For further information on the winners and other finalists, visit www.bayerinnovators.co.nz.

Photo details Bayer Innovators winners- left to right: Matt Templeton on behalf of Dr Robert Hill, Agriculture and Environment; Professor Simon Hall, Research and Development; Dr Azam Ali, Science and Health; Jeremy Turner, Design and Engineering.