www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-auckland
www.instagram.com/universityofaucklandThe University of Auckland is redefining what it means to be an innovative and entrepreneurial university in the 21st century, through activating its digital strategy, sustainability strategy and overarching University strategy and graduate profile, which all incorporate innovation and entrepreneurship as both methods as well as end-goals. We are embedding a future-focused, entrepreneurial mindset across campus. Our whole-of-institution approach spans transdisciplinary curricula, inclusive and experiential co-curricular programmes, cutting-edge research commercialisation, and strong industry and community engagement. This strategic commitment is paying off. We lead Australasia in commercialisation outcomes and are enabling both students and staff to pursue entrepreneurship. Our alumni have raised over $5 billion in capital and created hundreds of ventures and thousands of jobs. The University’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship is evidenced by both its incorporation into strategy and operations as well as an ongoing financial commitment. The University has an evergreen $41 million inventor’s fund and supports myriad innovation and entrepreneurship departments. This includes the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) recently shifting to have an ongoing financial commitment from the central university. CIE delivers over 250 free experiential I&E programmes each year to more than 7,000 students and staff from all faculties. These offerings develop skills in creative problem-solving, technology, and sustainability, ensuring our graduates are ready to lead in a changing world. Initiatives like MedTech-iQ Aotearoa, a national digital health innovation hub, and Momentum, a national student investment network, position us as a catalyst for New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem. Our commitment to equity ensures inclusive access to entrepreneurial pathways, with tailored initiatives for indigenous Māori, Pacific, and women students, with increased participation from women in CIE’s entrepreneurship education programmes, from 23% to 44% in a decade, and the creation of the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women. This leadership drives our vision: to nurture graduates who make the world better than it is today.
Finalist
Innovative and Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award
The University of Auckland
Finalist Innovative and Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award
The University of Auckland - New Zealand
"A powerhouse of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship"
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Summary
Key People
Professor Frank Bloomfield
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
The University of Auckland
Dr Greg Murison
CEO, Auckland UniServices Limited and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Innovation and Enterprise)
The University of Auckland
Darsel Keane
Director - Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The University of Auckland
Will Charles
Executive Director Commercialisation
UniServices
Professor Rod McNaughton
Academic Director - Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The University of Auckland
Dr Richard Clarke
Dean of Engineering
The University of Auckland
Professor Susan Watson
Dean of Business School
The University of Auckland
Professor Christine Woods
Director - Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women
The University of Auckland
Acknowledgements
Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland would like to express its deep gratitude to the many supporters within its entrepreneurial ecosystem, including alumni and industry partners. It is through philanthropic funding and the voluntary efforts of mentors, speakers and competition judges that many of our programmes are made possible.
Images
The University of Auckland recently celebrated the 21st anniversary of its student-led Velocity entrepreneurship development programme, which has generated many of NZ's most successful entrepreneurs
Innovation hubs such as Unleash Space run hundreds of free experiential technology training workshops each year and provide students and staff with facilities for prototyping
Kurutao is an annual entrepreneurial study tour of Aotearoa's indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, designed for Maori students
The Newmarket Innovation Precinct is the University's research commercialisation and industry collaboration hub
The University's annual Pacific Talanoa celebrates and inspires Pacific innovators and entrepreneurs
The Web3 hackathon was the first of its kind in New Zealand. The University will soon host the country's first ever Legal Tech hackathon
A recent Women in Entrepreneurship event. The University of Auckland has a high proportion of participation from women in its entrepreneurship programmes from CIE. The University further supports women entrepreneurs through the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women, which recently co-hosted the Diana conference
The University of Auckland hosts the New Zealand Product Accelerator - a government-funded programme that helps companies accelerate product development
The University of Auckland's medtech capabilities are supported through the Auckland Bioengineering Institute. The University also hosts virtual national innovation hub Medtech-iQ Aotearoa
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
At Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, innovation and entrepreneurship are embedded across teaching, research, and community engagement, driving tangible impact locally and globally.
For the second year running, the University has ranked number one in Australasia in the Survey of Commercialisation Outcomes from Public Research. This reflects a deep institutional commitment to translating research and ideas into real-world outcomes. We also rank among the top 100 global institutions for producing digitally skilled graduates, and are consistently recognised as a sustainability leader in international university rankings.
But the most compelling evidence of impact lies in the success of our graduates.
Our ecosystem has enabled the creation of globally significant ventures. Kami, an EdTech platform used in 95% of US K-12 schools, was named by TIME magazine as one of the world’s most influential companies. Deep-tech breakthroughs include Toku’s FDA-approved AI eye scans for disease detection, and Kitea Health’s world-first implantable pressure sensor and brain implant. Zenno Astronautics has launched superconducting magnet technology into orbit, backed by major Japanese investment.
Other success stories include Wayve, a leader in autonomous vehicle AI with partnerships with Uber and Nissan; Auror, which protects over 90% of New Zealand’s retail sector through its crime intelligence platform; and Halter, Aotearoa New Zealand’s latest tech unicorn, transforming sustainable farming practices.
These achievements exemplify the power of a university-led entrepreneurial ecosystem, fuelled by strategic vision, world-class support, and a belief in the ability of our people to change the world.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
The University of Auckland’s leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship is grounded in a commitment to sustainability, collaboration, and transdisciplinary thinking. Key learnings and advice for other institutions seeking to foster innovation include:
1. ANCHOR INNOVATION IN STRATEGY AND GRADUATE OUTCOMES
Innovation is embedded across the University’s Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile. It is not an add-on, but a core expectation of teaching, research and leadership at all levels.
2. EMPOWER PEOPLE, NOT JUST PROGRAMMES
Our innovation ecosystem focuses on developing mindsets and capabilities. We equip students and staff with the confidence to act—through exposure to emerging technologies like AI and VR, and safe spaces to experiment, prototype and fail forward.
3. BLEND CO-CURRICULAR AND CURRICULAR LEARNING
Innovation cannot live in silos. By embedding entrepreneurship in degree programmes and offering experiential learning across all faculties, we create inclusive, interdisciplinary and impactful learning environments.
4. TAKE A WHOLE-OF-INSTITUTION APPROACH
Innovation spans curriculum, campus operations, digital transformation, and research commercialisation. Leadership means aligning policies and systems to remove barriers and enable innovation to thrive.
5. FOCUS ON COMMUNITY, NOT JUST COMPETITION
Innovation is a collective effort. Initiatives like MedTech-iQ Aotearoa, Momentum, and CIE create ecosystems where collaboration and diversity are celebrated. Student-led programmes such as Velocity empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
OUR ADVICE:
Start with purpose, be people-focused, build with agility, and lead with openness. Innovation flourishes when everyone sees themselves as part of the journey.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The University of Auckland is committed to expanding its innovation ecosystem to equip future generations with the entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities needed to drive positive change for Aotearoa and the world.
A key opportunity on the horizon is the future development of the Newmarket Innovation Precinct — already home to leading industry partnerships and interdisciplinary research. Increased facilities and capability will significantly enhance the University’s role in accelerating deep-tech innovation, providing unparalleled opportunities for students, staff, and start-ups to collaborate with cutting-edge industry and international partners.
By 2030, the University aims to scale its support for innovative careers, start-up creation, and ecosystem engagement. Through support from the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, we will continue to grow pathways for students and staff to test ideas, build prototypes, and launch ventures with real-world impact. University of Auckland alumni will be widely recognised as confident, creative contributors across sectors, and entrepreneurship will be understood as an accessible and valued path for all.
We also envision stronger Māori and Pacific innovation pathways, increased alumni and philanthropic engagement, and deeper integration of innovation into curricula and research across faculties.
With operational excellence and scalable delivery models, the University will amplify its role as a catalyst for innovation, positioning itself as national and global exemplars of future-focused, inclusive innovation education.
