An insect's nose on a chip: New Zealand celebrates the scientists who carry lab ideas into the world

Winners of the 2026 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards were announced at a gala in Auckland on 8 October, honouring New Zealand researchers who turn publicly funded science into products and companies. Winners included Scentian Bio, for its 'insect nose on a chip' sensing technology; Professor Matthew Watson of the University of Canterbury, for work toward lower-emissions industries; Dr Dominic Moseley of the Paihau–Robinson Research Institute, for superconductivity; and Dr Gavin Ross, for horticulture and food biotechnology. KiwiNet brings together 14 universities and public research institutes representing 80% of New Zealand's publicly funded researchers.