New Zealand's bio and health ICT enterprises will benefit from an agreement, between NZBIO and NZ's Health IT Cluster, which will see the two organisations work collaboratively on areas of mutual interest.

The alliance brings New Zealand's health ICT cluster closer with the country's internationally successful bio-based companies involved in improving human health.

A number of NZBIO's members are local bio-enterprises involved in areas including drug discovery for diabetes, asthma, cancer, wound healing, diagnostics and cell therapies, that are world renown, successfully commercialising their products in the US markets, the largest health market in the world. New Zealand's reputation for manufacturing new biopharmaceuticals and developing naturally derived health food products is also expanding.

The New Zealand health ICT industry also enjoys a strong international reputation for the development of innovative solutions that enable the efficient and effective delivery of health services, through softwareadv ancements including leading electronic breast cancer screening programme tracking system, nationwide secure health data networks andconnecting hospitals, laboratories, radiology and GP's with patient records.

"The alliance with the Health IT cluster and NZBIO will ensure closer working relationships between the two industry associations, bringing together bioenterprises and IT health companies that are committed to developing innovative new products and services to advance healthcare. It will allow greater opportunities to work together for our members particularly in areas of policy advocacy, networking and provide the right settings for companies to enter the world health markets," says Bronwyn Dilley, Chief Executive of NZBIO.

"This follows our recent agreement between MTANZ, the association representing medical devices and it makes sense that the three organisations work together in areas that mutually benefit our members."

Dougal McKechnie, Chief Executive of the Health IT Cluster said, "As advances are made in research, science and technology we have proven that we can apply those developments to the day to day delivery of healthcare services. That benefits our communities through an optimised health system and has the potential to significantly contribute to the growth of the New Zealand economy."

"This agreement with NZ BIO is the latest in a series that the Cluster has
entered into which will foster greater collaboration in areas of shared
interest", he said.

Other benefits of the alliance include opportunities to work together in areas of such as, clinical trials, R & D funding, professional development course, local and international conferences, joint ventures, collaborations in research projects and wider networking opportunities at regional events.