Five AI concepts shortlisted for $70m platform as Steve O'Connor named establishment chair of New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology

New Zealand shortlists five concepts for national AI research platform; Steve O'Connor named establishment chair of the Institute for Advanced Technology

Credit: Shane Reti, Minister of Statistics / Supplied

Five concepts from universities, public research organisations and the tech industry have been shortlisted for New Zealand's new AI research platform. The platform will be overseen by the Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT), a newly announced Public Research Organisation, with up to $70 million in government funding over seven years.

Announcing the shortlist, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti also confirmed the inaugural NZIAT board. Steve O'Connor will serve as establishment chair for the first six months to set foundations and pace.

The shortlisted concepts

• The Aotearoa Agentic AI Platform - led by the University of Auckland, focused on next-generation AI assistants aligned with New Zealand values.
• The Aotearoa Creative AI Research Institute - led by Wētā FX to position New Zealand at the forefront of AI research for the creative sector.
• The Aotearoa Institute for Autonomous Intelligence - led by Earth Sciences New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington, developing AI and autonomous systems for aerospace, marine and primary industries.
• The BioAI Platform - led by the Bioeconomy Science Institute, using AI to lift productivity and export growth across agriculture, aquaculture and forestry.
• Physical AI for Real-World Systems - combining strengths from the University of Waikato and University of Canterbury to deliver AI that works in complex outdoor and industrial environments.

Each concept receives $250,000 to prepare a detailed proposal for further assessment. The final platform is expected to be confirmed in the first half of 2026, with funding from July 2026. Applications for the platform opened in October.

Reti said the selection offers a strong mix of leadership and application areas: "This is an exciting first step to lift our AI capabilities, fast-track commercialisation and create new opportunities for New Zealanders." He added, "By embracing AI as a catalyst for sustainable growth, national competitiveness and long-term prosperity, New Zealand can lead, not follow, in the global digital economy."

Institute for Advanced Technology board

As establishment chair, Steve O'Connor will guide governance and ensure flexibility in NZIAT's early phase. O'Connor is director and deputy chair of New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, a member of the Victoria University Business School Advisory Board, and founder of independent electricity retailer Flick Electric Co.

Joining O'Connor are University of Auckland Professors Cather Simpson and Greg O'Grady, and agritech investor and entrepreneur Arama Kukutai. The board brings deep experience in governance, entrepreneurship and innovation to shape advanced technology research.

What agencies should do now

• Identify pilot use cases aligned to the shortlisted themes (e.g., primary industries, creative, autonomous systems) and map them to policy outcomes.
• Strengthen data foundations-catalogue critical datasets, address privacy and Māori data sovereignty considerations early, and clarify access and security controls.
• Prepare procurement settings for AI projects: assurance, model risk classification, testing in real-world conditions, and clear IP terms for co-developed models.
• Stand up governance around safety, bias, transparency and auditability, using existing public sector commitments like the Algorithm Charter as a baseline.
• Build capability across policy, legal, security and delivery teams; plan for cross-agency secondments where specialist skills are limited.
• Engage early with NZIAT and shortlisted consortia to explore partnership pathways and co-funding opportunities where appropriate.

Key dates

• Now: Each shortlisted concept receives $250,000 to develop a detailed proposal.
• First half of 2026: Final platform confirmed.
• From July 2026: Funding commences for the selected platform.

Why this matters for government

AI capability built through the platform can reduce service delivery costs, improve decision quality, and open new export channels via science-commercial partnerships. For agencies, the near-term value is access to credible research partners, clearer assurance pathways and a pipeline of applied pilots tied to national priorities.

This is also a signal to update strategies and workforce plans. Policy, procurement and data teams should move in lockstep so pilots don't stall on assurance or access to data.

Useful resources

• MBIE - Science and Innovation
• Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand
• AI training paths by job role (for public sector teams)

Momentum is building across AI, quantum and materials technologies. With governance in place and a clear funding runway, agencies have a window to line up data, procurement and skills so they can plug in quickly as projects move from concept to delivery.