"The Innovation Fund is a great staging point for effective collaboration between government agencies, Microsoft and its partners. It provides government agencies with the opportunity to transform creative ideas into working realities through practical technology solution trials. When fully implemented the Innovation Fund projects will help enhance the experiences of New Zealanders with government services."

Kevin Ackhurst, Managing Director - Microsoft New Zealand

About the Microsoft New Zealand Innovation Centre

The Microsoft New Zealand Innovation Fund aims to give government agencies the opportunity to address public sector challenges, by developing proof-of-concept prototypes, using Microsoft technology and expertise. Solutions are delivered in collaboration with Microsoft Services and Microsoft certified technology partners at no cost to the agency. All the reusable intellectual property generated from Innovation Fund projects is made freely available to any interested government organisation.

The Microsoft New Zealand Innovation Fund was established in August 2002 and modelled on the successful South Australian Microsoft Innovation Centre. Every year Microsoft New Zealand invests up to one million dollars in to the programme.

Vision

The Microsoft New Zealand Innovation Fund was established:

• To help the New Zealand Government fully utilise its existing investment in Microsoft technology
• For Microsoft, its Implementation Partners and Government to work together on innovative technology solutions
• To contribute to New Zealand's development as a knowledge economy
• To foster local expertise and best practices in the latest Microsoft technology

Innovation Fund projects create great stories about the innovative use of technology in New Zealand. The collaborative approach of Innovation Fund projects means that each organisation and individual involved benefits from a mutual sharing of skills and knowledge. Participants build productive working relationships while Microsoft and its partners gain a better understanding of the customer's business. Many prototypes form a basis for the business case for deployment.

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