TIN 100 stars on rise as high-tech sector defies tough market conditions

“The continued growth in revenue of TIN 100 companies is one indicator of a healthy, dynamic manufacturing sector and shows that investment in technology can insulate firms to an extent from unfavourable macro-economic conditions,” he says.

For the last seven years the Technology Innovation Network (TIN) has published a list of New Zealand’s top 100 technology companies by revenue, the TIN 100 Report. In addition to providing insights into New Zealand’s top ICT^[?], high- tech manufacturing and biotechnology firms, the report does much to profile the high-value manufacturing sector.

Shaun Coffey says it is particularly encouraging to see advanced manufacturing firms like Rakon and Scott Technology among the star performers in the 2011 TIN 100 Report, published in association with IRL.

“Advanced manufacturing, more than any other sector of the New Zealand economy, has the potential to greatly increase its contribution to GDP.”

He says many of the successful products and services developed by New Zealand firms that compete on the world stage are underpinned by this country’s science and technology capability. 

“Most successful companies have a long-term strategy for growth based on current and future demand for their products in global markets. To meet this demand it is key that firms develop a robust pipeline of world-leading products and services.”

Over the last few years IRL has been making a concerted effort to demonstrate to business the benefits to productivity and profitability of increasing investment in R&D.

“Schemes like our Co-investment Programme, which is designed to help firms get products to market with much lower development costs, and our Scientist For a Day initiative, which encourages firms to think about what R&D can do for them and whether their R&D is focused in the right areas, have been very successful in demonstrating the benefits of R&D across a wide range of industries,” he says.