Transform

Our response was to present a structured approach with four simple steps that would allocate the funds to progressive companies and interesting projects. These steps involved:

  • Identification of a wide variety of technologies and companies
  • Selection of the best candidates
  • Validation of each selected project using the PDS process
  • Action the actual R&D project against plans developed during the PDS process and monitored by FRST.

A key step in the process was the use of our 'Project Development Specification'  PDS during the validation phase. Each of the final projects was put through the PDS process which enabled companies to develop a broader and more accurate understanding of the project they were about to undertake. The PDS process investigates technical, consumer, economic, and environmental factors to form accurate scoping and planning documents along with an effective risk assessment. It considers the implications of the commercial development as a whole rather than just the research and development component. The developed documents provided both Textiles New Zealand and the Foundation of Research Science and Technology a clear

A critical part of the project was also to 'build capability' within the textiles industry

and developed commercial case to make a final funding decision.
The selected companies are:

  1. Levana Textiles – ‘Encircle’ – Non-Invasive compression technology
  2. Jaedon Enterprises & Manukau Knitting Mills – ‘Protex’ – Technical chainsaw protective wear.
  3. Zephyr Technology – ‘Bioharness’- Fabric sensing technology.
  4. Designer Textiles – ‘Modus’ – Sustainable merino shrink resistance
  5. Maxwell Rodgers – ‘Lave’ – Machine washable bed throws
  6. South Canterbury Textiles – ‘Repose’ – Easy care sleepwear
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Testimonials

“Robust and thorough, reflecting the objective of supporting the development of transformational technology that would be a sound commercial proposition ... the support network put in place to assist companies through the process has been outstanding. We have a very exciting project underway and believe the long term benefits to the industry will be far reaching.”

Verne Attmore — Levana Textiles.

“Zephyr Technology has found the Transform initiative a great process to facilitate the development of textile based technology for New Zealand companies; enabling the application of research that will follow through to commercial deliverables.”

Jonathan Woodward — CTO, Zephyr Technology Ltd.

“The Foundation has worked closely with Locus Research to ensure the normal rigorous contestable selection process it uses for all of its research and development investments was fairly applied to the Transform Initiative. The initial proposals selected represented a good cross-section of projects that would deliver transformational benefits to both the companies involved and New Zealand.”

Craig Holmes — Strategy Manager: New Materials, Technologies & Services, FRST