I recently read an interesting article about innovation and collaboration - Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation By Steven Johnston. It focused on the importance of creating collaborative spaces where innovative ideas could ‘meet and fall in love’.

It was with this idea that I joined a group of distinguished individuals to celebrate the official launch of the trans-Tasman partnership between the University of Canterbury (UC) and the Creative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI). The event was held at the Banquet Hall in the Parliament Buildings on 13 July 2011.

After some initial lively chatter, guests were given an outline of what the new UC-CRCSI partnership means to geospatial innovation, research and development in New Zealand and Australia. Speakers included the host, Dr Wayne Mapp, Colin MacDonald (CEO, LINZ), Dr Wendy Lawson (Dean of Science, UC) and Dr Mary O’Kane (Board of Directors Chair, CRCSI).

It was impossible to ignore the buzz of boundless opportunity. I saw how much potential geospatial technology has as I listened to the way in which it is becoming ever more useful and utilised. Every aspect of what we do in government, industry and research is affected.

The University of Canterbury are showing outward facing leadership in the geospatial technology innovation and education spaces. CRCSI is a successful example of the value of bringing together government, industry and research for the development of new, end-user driven Research and Development initiatives.

It is hard not to feel optimistic and encouraged by the partnership.The bridging of the Tasman to leverage maximum research value epitomises the power of open collaboration.

As guests continued to talk after the speeches, I watched ideas starting to come together. Synergies were surfaced and cards were swapped. I am very much hoping to be invited to celebrate the successful partnership of those ideas in the near future.

If you are interested in discussing how you can get involved in this new partnership, or to explore some ideas, please talk to either Mary Sue Severn from the CRCSI; msevern@linz.govt.nz, or Wendy Lawson from the University of Canterbury; wendy.lawson@canterbury.ac.nz.

Kathryn Salm

Geospatial Capability Leader
New Zealand Geospatial Office