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Science New Zealand chief executive Anthony Scott said: “The Prime Minister’s Awards are a wonderful means of elevating the public recognition of science That they come from the Prime Minister acknowledges the value that science delivers to New Zealand at individual level and collectively for our society and economy.
A new global power technology, projected to be worth over $200 million to the New Zealand economy in the next decade, has taken out the inaugural Prime Minister’s science prize.
IRL scientists Dr Bob Buckley and Dr Jeff Tallon, who are world-leading experts in the field of high temperature superconductivity, received the award and prize money of $500,000, of which $400,000 will go to IRL for the continued development of the technology.
“The award of the inaugural Prime Minister’s Science Prize to Dr Bob Buckley and Dr Jeff Tallon from Industrial Research Ltd for their work on superconductivity is welcomed recognition of the contribution they are making to commerce as well as science,” said Simon Arnold CEO of the NZHTSIA.
Two scientists who have spent 20 years developing high temperature superconductors have won the main prize in the inaugural Prime Minister's science awards. The prize worth $500,000 was awarded to Dr Jeff Tallon and Dr Bob Buckley.
This week the hottest minds in the extremely cool technology of high temperature superconductors meet in Wellington.
HTS allows for a lighter, more efficient and environmentally sound way of transmitting power.
This week, New Zealand hosts the 18th International Superconductivity Industry Summit, where multi-national heavy-weights like Siemans AG will rub shoulders with New Zealand-based companies such as General Cable NZ Ltd and HTS-110. As the superconductivity industry matures over the next decade, these New Zealand companies have an excellent chance of becoming significant export earners.
Small-scale power transmission projects around the world using highly efficient superconductors are showing promise and could have applications in this country.
Boosting the global uptake of high temperature superconductors, a revolutionary technology transforming a wide range of industries, is the goal of an influential line-up of international industrial heavyweights gathering in Wellington next week.