22 Jun 2012

NZ eyes US scientific expertise

7:05 am on 22 June 2012

New Zealand companies are backing a delegation travelling to the US to visit an internationally-known independent research institute to seek science partnerships that may lead to money-making ventures back here.

Delegation members include representatives of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Crown Research Institutes, universities and the private sector and are travelling to the North Carolina-based Research Triangle Institute.

Marlborough Research Centre chief executive Gerald Hope says RTI travelled to his organisation earlier this year to explore some tie-ups and this is a return visit.

Mr Hope says the intention is to make use of the expertise of RTI and turn his centre's work in managing water resources and examining salmon by-products into successful business opportunities.