NZ Business Connect and the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences partner to strengthen connections between research and business
A new partnership between NZ Business Connect and the University of Waikato's School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences is bringing the region's business and academic communities closer together, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing, collaboration and new commercial connections.
The partnership will see the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences sponsor and host one NZ Business Connect event each year, alternating between Hamilton and Tauranga. The school sponsored a NZ Business Connect event in Tauranga this year, with the next event planned for Hamilton in 2027.
For NZ Business Connect Founder Phillip Quay, the relationship is a significant step for the network and something few business networks can offer their members.
“Having the University of Waikato's School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences choose to work alongside NZ Business Connect in this way is a major endorsement of what we are building,” said Phillip.
“Not many business networks can say they have this kind of relationship with a university. This isn't simply about putting a logo on an event. It is about creating a genuine bridge between business and the knowledge, research and innovation coming out of the School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences.”
The relationship will extend beyond the annual event. University academics and representatives will have opportunities to speak at other NZ Business Connect events, while the university will contribute research and industry insights to The Pulse, NZ Business Connect's communications platform.
The University of Waikato will also connect NZ Business Connect with its wider commercial and business partnerships team, creating a pathway to stories, expertise and developments from across the university.
For members, that could mean greater access to research, emerging technology, specialist knowledge and the people behind it. It also provides a platform for businesses to share real-world challenges and explore where academic expertise may offer new perspectives or solutions.
The partnership reflects a shared interest in strengthening the business communities of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty by creating connections that extend beyond traditional networking.
For NZ Business Connect, the 2027 Hamilton event will be an opportunity to bring that vision to life on its home turf, while continuing a partnership that connects business owners and professionals with one of the region's key sources of research, talent and innovation.
With the relationship now established, members can look forward to more opportunities to engage with the University of Waikato through events, expert speakers and research-led content.
It is a partnership designed to turn connections into conversations, and conversations into opportunities for the wider business community.
Media Contact:
Phillip Quay
Founder, NZ Business Connect
027 458 7724
info@nzbusinessconnect.co.nz