Accelerating AI Research and Innovation in New Zealand

New Zealand’s technology sector is changing very quickly and above all artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a big role in this modern technological change. At the recent AI Summit: Accelerating AI Research and Innovation, held in New Zealand, government officials, industry leaders and experts and researchers all came together to discuss how AI can go one step further and bring in new ideas, improve productivity and open opportunities for the country’s future.

Urging AI Research and Innovation Through Policy, Infrastructure and People

The Summit emphasized how AI aligns with New Zealand’s national AI Strategy, first introduced in 2025. The strategy takes a balanced, industry-led approach that encourages responsible AI adoption while avoiding restrictive regulations that could hinder growth. The government highlighted its commitment to using existing laws such as privacy, consumer protection and  competition regulations to provide clarity as AI evolves.

International collaboration is also central. New Zealand is part of the OECD AI Principles and global agreements such as the Bletchley and Seoul Declarations. Greater trans-Tasman alignment with Australia and the adoption of 47 global standards have strengthened the country’s AI ecosystem.

The Three Pillars: Government leaders outlined three essential components for advancing AI:

• Policy: A risk-balanced framework encouraging innovation.
  

• Infrastructure: To provide strong digital connectivity, as much as 56 operational data centers along with 20 more are in progress. New renewable energy projects to aid advanced computing are also in the works. A newly launched supercomputer worth $20 million is already giving AI-driven science and weather research.
  

People: A large investment of $64 million is put in STEM education, in universities and new AI-focused curriculum developments at schools. Leading to workforce capabilities of building and applying AI solutions.

Major Funding Announcements

A centerpiece of the Summit was the launch of a $70 million AI research platform through the newly established New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology. This initiative will more than double the nation’s contestable AI R&D funding and focus on building commercialization pathways, creating intellectual property and  driving economic growth.

This sits alongside existing science funding streams, such as:

• $13 million for AI in environmental science

• $16 million for AI in aquaculture and the blue economy

• $10 million for transparent data science

• International collaborations worth $19 million in AI for health and biotechnology

With AI-related R&D expenditure rising 37% to $228 million in 2025, it’s clear that industry and government are investing heavily in this space.

Finally..

This year’s Summit challenged the researchers and industry leaders to mold new AI platforms strategically. The investments focus on foundational AI applied technologies or even sector-specific applications like biotechnology and geoscience. All of this can define New Zealand’s competitive edge on the global stage.

The combination of smart policy, robust infrastructure and skilled people sets the stage for AI research and innovation. Along with the government’s funding and collaborative approach might provide a future where AI can bring in stronger industries and put New Zealand as a leader in technology and its advancement.