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NZ-built bus runs on metal-air cell, now that’s a headline that gets my attention.
The Press recently reported on Ashburton based coachbuilders Designline’s efforts to build a “space age” prototype bus using their proven bus building technology and an American company Alchemy Enterprises new magnesium fuel cell engine.
Brilliant, New Zealanders leading the world again.
The guts of the story is that Designline are recognised world leaders in making advanced electric drive systems and Alchemy have developed a new fuel cell, together they can demonstrate it to the world.
Bang on the nail guys, now, if we could just motivate the investment bankers to invest in the efforts of other Kiwis inventors and stimulate the Government to provide a climate for research and development with tax breaks and a small business friendly attitude, then we as a nation could become world leaders in the next generation of transport systems.
Directly under this story was another article about how NZ SOE’s are being urged to “eye up” new overseas business, Trevor Mallard went on to outline New Zealand’s new policy that some say is fraught with limited benefits and “significant” risk.
He said that this new policy’s aim was to build New Zealand’s wealth by focusing on productivity rather than fiscal expansion.
It lays out the four criteria that must be met:
· Diversification must be linked to existing areas of expertise.
· Wider positive spill over effects for other private firms and businesses must occur.
· They should be self financed.
· And a clear business case with explicit performance indicators and a clear exit route for faltering ventures must be given.
He also said that cash from the Governments coffers was not favoured but was also not to be ruled out.
Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if we mixed our “clean green image” and our newly re-invigorated “Buy NZ” policy overseas, this new proactive SOE policy could cheaply but effectively assist NZ inventers market their talents and inventions overseas. If they applied the four criteria above and made investment in NZ R&D attractive to both local and overseas investors, and then assisted our huge Kiwi talent pool to develop a clear business case with explicit performance indicators and a clear exit route for faltering ventures, then we could quickly be at the forefront in developing the next generation of transportation systems, beyond oil.
Because if the day ever comes that we as a transport system can’t supply supermarkets with food and the most basic necessities of life for you to buy, then we have a problem of a magnitude and scale that we may never be able to overcome.
So the motivation is right there, the method to provide a solution is sitting here waiting to be plucked, the people capable of solving the problem have always been here, but need to be recognised and now at long last the general media is becoming more aware and printing ever increasing numbers of stories publicising the situation.
Turning NZ intro a knowledge based economy has been a key driver for successive governments over the past decade, some of the major problems we need to solve with that knowledge is now surely becoming obvious even to the most dim-witted.
There are un-limited benefits to be had from being leaders in this field and the only “significant” risk; I believe is simply doing nothing.
The one trap that has to be avoided is limiting the opportunity to the privileged few who can afford to develop an invention to market and the manpower needed to develop a clear business case with explicit performance indicators and a clear exit route for faltering ventures. If we ignore the thinker, tinkerer and backyard mechanic struggling away in the back shed, it will at our children’s peril. What is needed, are joint ventures with equal benefits for both investors and inventors within an encouraging political environment.
The time is right. The opportunity is knocking right here, right now.
The trick is not to blow it.
But then, that is “Just an old trucker’s point of view”
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