The ‘Technology for Business Growth’ Programme

Abstract

The use of technology to gain competitive advantage is emerging internationally as one of the key strategic issues for modern enterprises in the rapidly changing environment of the 1990s. Much of New Zealand's steadily declining economic performance over the last 30 years has been attributed to a lack of R&D investment and technological innovation. In response to this, the Technology for Business Growth Programme was introduced in 1990 by the government with the primary aim of catalysing an ‘R&D’ culture in industry. This article sets out the Programme's aims and actions in the context of the culture and attitudes that have been prevalent in New Zealand business, and assesses its success to date.