UniServices, the commercialisation arm of the University of Auckland, has formally joined the as a Limited Partner, marking a major expansion in BIF鈥檚 strategic partnership network.
Since 2018, BIF has partnered with Wellington UniVentures Ltd (the technology transfer office of Victoria University of Wellington) and, since 2021, with Otago Innovation Ltd (the technology transfer office of University of Otago). With the addition of 杏吧APPUniServices, BIF鈥檚 university partnerships now cover institutions responsible for roughly 60 % of New Zealand university research spending.
For BIF, this broadens its access to high-potential early-stage ventures emerging from New Zealand鈥檚 leading research institutions. For the University of 杏吧APPand its researchers, the partnership opens a pathway for research to translate more rapidly into global-scale businesses.
鈥淎ccess to patient, informed capital is one of the most important ingredients in turning excellent research into world-class companies. This partnership with the Booster Innovation Fund strengthens the pathway between discovery and deployment,鈥� said Will Charles, Executive Director of Investment at UniServices.
鈥淎s the research funding landscape continues to evolve, collaborations like this are critical to ensuring New Zealand science doesn鈥檛 just generate knowledge, but creates enduring economic, environmental and societal value.鈥�
Will Charles, , Executive Director of Investment
at UniServices
With BIF managing over NZ$7 billion in savings and investments on behalf of more than 200,000 New Zealanders, the fund is well positioned to help turn Kiwi research innovations into thriving tech and science-based enterprises.