Otago Polytechnic says a government research and development scheme for businesses is succeeding where others have failed.
The Technology Transfer Voucher scheme has been criticised for spending only $3.9 million of the $20 million set aside over four years.
Innovation Workspace staff working on composite parts of a wind turbine. Photo: POWERHOUSE WIND LTD
The vouchers give small companies developing new products research money to spend in a range of Crown institutes, universities and polytechs.
Otago Polytechnic research and enterprise director Alistair Regan says it has attracted four projects with significant export potential, and has another six in the pipeline.
Mr Regan says the scheme started slowly but is gathering speed.
Start-up wind turbine business Powerhouse Wind, which is working with Otago Polytech, says without the scheme it would never have been able to find the money to go commercial.
