Connecting New Zealand to Asia’s innovation future 

Aotearoa New Zealand produces no shortage of ideas. Turning those ideas into globally competitive businesses is harder. For Tim McCready, that gap between invention and impact has shaped his career. 

As the Director of Business and Entrepreneurship at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, McCready and his team work at the intersection of innovation, international engagement and economic growth. They help New Zealand businesses build the confidence, capability and connections to succeed across Asia, where markets, capital and partnerships can accelerate growth. His interest in this space began at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, where he completed a Master of Bioscience Enterprise. The programme exposed him to the challenge of translating research and technical ideas into commercial outcomes.  
 
“New Zealand is an incredibly innovative place... we produce world-class ideas,” he says. “But innovation only creates value when it is commercialised and scaled in the real world.” 

That insight continues to guide his work. While New Zealand has a history of breakthrough innovation, scaling those ideas into sustainable, globally relevant businesses remains a consistent challenge. 

That challenge is playing out against a rapidly changing global backdrop. Asia is now home to the world’s second-largest start-up ecosystem, attracting around a quarter of global venture capital investment in recent years. Growth across the region has been driven by digitalisation, large connected markets, and increasing investment from both governments and corporates. 

Asia presents a diverse set of opportunities. Established hubs such as Singapore offer stable, highly connected business environments, while countries like Indonesia and India are experiencing rapid growth across digital and entrepreneurial sectors. 

At the same time, those ecosystems are still developing. Start-up density across Asia remains significantly lower than in OECD countries, highlighting both the scale of opportunity and the work still required to support founders and ventures. 

For New Zealand businesses, engaging with these markets is increasingly necessary rather than optional.  
 
“Entrepreneurship is how ideas translate into economic value,” McCready says. “If we want to lift productivity and compete globally, we need more ambitious, scalable businesses that are built with international markets in mind from day one. ”

The  Asia New Zealand Foundation plays a role in supporting that shift. Through leadership programmes, internships and entrepreneur exchanges, it helps New Zealanders build the relationships and experience needed to operate internationally. Over time, those connections can lead to partnerships, investment, and new market opportunities. 
 
“The value of those connections compounds over time,” he says. “You never know which of the people you meet early in your career will become long-term collaborators, investors, or partners.” 

For students and early-career innovators, his advice is practical. Many of the pathways into international innovation work already exist, but they require initiative.  
 
“Start by putting your hand up and back yourself,” he says. “The opportunities are there, but they tend to go to those who actively seek them out.” 

Learn about the opportunities available through Asia New Zealand Foundation