‘Park promising’— Canterbury University

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 31

‘Park promising’— Canterbury University

From the outset, one of the major supporters of the Canterbury Technology Park has been Canterbury University. Although its support has been moral! rather than financial, the university looks forward to a rewarding liaison with the park. Construction begins this month on the park headquarters, the Canterbury Development Centre, which will in part be used for the development of young ideas. It will have a pool of shared (administrative facilities, and is envisioned as a place where people with ideas, but little capital, can start their businesses. "Out of our research will often come an idea which can be commercially exploited," says Professor Barge of the School of Engineering. “We are hoping for an environment where we can work on developing those ideas and taking them out of the research stage — perhaps forming a small company to take them further.”

The phenomenon of the "drift north” has affected the university as well. Companies- who once supported its research are moving to Auckland in

bigger and bigger numbers. It is hoped that Ithe technology park will counteract this, providing a local focus and direction of thinking towards ithe world of high technology.

Without . this focus, Christchurch is losing (not only businesses but the talents of its university graduates. |

“We must create a challenging environment i for our graduates,” says Professor Bates, also of the School of Engineering. “They can stand up anywhere in the world, arid if they cannot find what they want here they; will go overseas. "If someone does Swell at a United States university, they will usually leave before they graduate to work for one of the big companies. They, are doing exciting work (with famous people and geitting paid well for it.” I The technology park offers some hope i for graduates here to have the same opportunities. Professor Arriilaga, head of the Research in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, sums up what the university hopes to gain ifrom the park — “the time and peace of mind to do what we are so capable of doing."