Kia ora,
Welcome to the first edition of the HealthTech Activator (HTA) Monthly Wrap for 2026. We hope you had a restful summer break and found time to recharge.
As we head into the new year, there’s a strong sense of momentum across Aotearoa’s healthtech sector, from major national investments to frontline digital innovation and growing commercial impact from local ventures.
NZ innovation highlights
Building national capability in advanced health technologies
A significant development for the innovation landscape is the establishment of the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT). As a new public research organisation, NZIAT has been created to bring researchers, industry, and investors closer together, with a clear focus on translating advanced science into real-world impact.
With board governance that includes biomedical engineer Professor Greg O’Grady and physicist-entrepreneur Cather Simpson, both with strong links to founder-led innovation and commercialisation, the institute signals a more coordinated approach to building national capability.
The HTA is expected to transition into NZIAT, with details on timing, structure, and scope still to be confirmed. In the interim, HTA continues its work supporting healthtech companies to build, validate, and scale.
Learn more about how HealthTech Activator continues to support healthtech founders.
Digital tools supporting clinical workflows
Through HealthX, Te Whatu Ora’s digital innovation programme, AI scribe tools are now being rolled out across public emergency departments following successful pilots in multiple regions. The tools securely capture clinician patient conversations and generate draft clinical notes and referrals for review, significantly reducing documentation time per patient and after shift admin. Early results show improved clinical efficiency, better workflow flow in busy ED settings, and strong clinician uptake, with many staff advocating for wider access as the rollout expands nationally.
Now live: HealthTech Activator’s Digital Health page
See how we support founders to design, validate, and scale digital health solutions aligned with national priorities.
Get in Touch
As always, the HealthTech Activator is here to help your venture build strong foundations, from early market validation through to regulatory readiness and quality management. Contact us to get started.
Build to Scale Series: Now Live
Build to Scale is HTA’s series for founders who are moving from early traction to scalable growth.
This programme is built around four core growth pillars: market validation, clinical validation, reimbursement, and regulatory readiness.
You’ll find expert-led resources, founder insights, and real-world case examples, grounded in the New Zealand context and relevant to global markets.
The first Build to Scale modules, covering market validation and health economics, are now live. Follow the HealthTech Activator on LinkedIn for weekly content updates as the series rolls out.
