The HealthTech Activator Transitions to NZIAT

On July 1st the HTA transferred from Callaghan Innovation to the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT). NZIAT has been established as a Crown entity company, which will soon become NZ’s fourth Public Research Organisation (PRO), and has been created to strengthen New Zealand’s advanced technology capability and accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to commercial impact.

Its role is to connect research, industry, and investment so that world-leading science creates new products, services, industries, and high-value jobs here in New Zealand.

Looking Back at HealthTech Week 2026

As key sponsors of the Te Tītoki Mataora forum at HealthTech Week '26, the HealthTech Activator team were able to spend quality time with an amazing cohort of researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and industry professionals all focused on harnessing the strength, experience and opportunity of our growing HealthTech ecosystem.

Across an impressive three days of activity, many in our community of professionals were able to come together to learn, share and celebrate.

The HTA Team at HealthTech Week '26

Student R&D Experience Grants and R&D Career Grants are back!

These programmes support businesses to bring in fresh talent, helping to supercharge research and development projects while launching the next generation of R&D careers.

These grants deliver a triple win:

Businesses gain fresh perspectives and hands-on support for R&D initiatives
Students and graduates gain meaningful, career-starting experience in innovative organisations
Employers receive funding to help cover salary costs

Two grant options are available, each designed to meet different needs:

R&D Experience Grant

Funds a full-time tertiary student intern for 400 hours at $29.90 per hour, up to $11,960 (plus GST) *.

Programme opens for applications 13 July, closes 24 August.

R&D Career Grant

Provides funding towards six months’ salary, up to $30,000 for a Master’s graduate, or up to $35,000 for a PhD graduate.

Applications open 31 August 2026

HTA Events

QMS Corner

Quality Management Learning Series - Resources

The live Quality Management Learning Series may have finished, but all resources remain available on the QMS page. Organised into four practical topic areas, the content can be completed at your own pace and is designed to help healthtech teams build and strengthen their quality management capabilities.

Build your QMS capability:

Whether you're new to quality management or looking to strengthen existing processes, the QMS Learning Series resources can help you:

Understand core QMS principles and best practices
Apply ISO 13485 requirements
Access practical tools and resources to support quality management within your organisation
Earn certificates as evidence of professional development

QMS Learning Series webpage

Build to Scale Spotlight: Cannulight

From Clinical Challenge to Innovation

When Cannulight founder Dr James Stone experienced the challenges of placing intravenous (IV) lines during wisdom tooth extraction, he saw an opportunity to improve the process. The result was Cannulight's pressure-sensing device, which provides clinicians with immediate visual feedback during IV insertion.

With an estimated 1.4 billion IV insertions performed globally every year, Cannulight is focused on improving one of healthcare's most common medical procedures.

The story also highlights an important lesson for healthtech founders: successful commercialisation requires more than great technology. It involves navigating research, regulation, and reimbursement while ensuring solutions are shaped by the needs and realities of end users.

Watch the full story and explore the Build to Scale series for further insights.

NZ Sector Events

GP26 Conference, 30 July - 1 August, Auckland
Design for Manufacture in Medical Device Development, 26 August, Auckland
MedTech Explorer Showcase, 27 August, Auckland
Te Ao Mārama 2026, 9 September, Online
The New Zealand Private Surgical Hospitals Association, 23 -25th September Auckland
2026 Digital Health Week Conference, 18 November, Auckland

News

NZ News

World News

Mā te wā,

HealthTech Activator team

New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology

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Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield Road, Lower Hutt, 5010