Entries to the 2014 NZ Hi-Tech Awards closed yesterday with a record number of entries received - a massive 38% increase on last year.
Entry levels across all categories were extremely strong with year-on-year growth in eleven out of the 12 categories.
Significant increases in entry numbers were seen in the Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Pre-Commercialisation Company and NZVIF Hi-Tech Startup Company categories as well as those categories catering for more established companies – the IBM Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year (under $5m) and NZMEA Hi-Tech Exporter of the Year (over $5m) categories and the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year.
“This is a sensational result for the Hi-Tech Awards,” said NZ Hi-Tech Trust Chair, Wayne Norrie.
“It’s not only a testament to the great talent we have coming through but also shows that our established companies are continuing to prosper here and offshore. Our local and international judging panels now have the mammoth task of carefully reviewing all these entries to come up with our finalists,”
Finalists will be announced at simultaneous events being held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Wednesday 26th of March with the winners being announced at the Gala Dinner in Christchurch on Friday 16th of May.
“It’s really exciting and inspiring to see such support from entrants, sponsors and our judges as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Awards and as we are finally able to make a long awaited return to Christchurch for the Gala Dinner.” said Norrie.