Southern innovators will get their chance today to find out more about Te Papa's just-launched innovation hub, Mahuki, which is looking to attract about 40 entrepreneurs for its new residential programme.
Te Papa is investing about $1million to establish Mahuki ("perceptive''), including using Te Papa's office space.
It is supported by a founding partnership with Vodafone New Zealand, which is investing $150,000.
Te Papa chief executive Rick Ellis said the programme would support 40 entrepreneurs while they worked, helping them access international networks when their innovations were market-ready.
"The kinds of innovations we are looking for will enable New Zealanders to access their national collections in new ways and activate new kinds of storytelling,'' Mr Ellis said.
The idea was to develop "the next generation of experiences'' for the culture, heritage and learning sectors, he said.
The Mahuki roadshow is visiting Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, where it is being held in Otago Museum's Barclay Theatre today.
Applications close on June 9 and the first intake of about 40 residents will start at the hub in August, spending four months in intensive residency developing their innovations.
The Mahuki entrepreneurs will work with Te Papa's experts and collections and have the chance to market-test their ideas with Te Papa's millions of visitors, Mr Ellis said.
"When we see old soldiers in their 80s poring over a 3-D digital map of Gallipoli with tears in their eyes, that's the kind of impact we're looking for,'' Mr Ellis said.
While residents would receive $20,000 per company when working in the hub, Te Papa would take a 6% equity stake in the Mahuki companies, which could potentially be bought by the museum if the developments met its needs, or be taken to market elsewhere.
Mr Ellis said half of Te Papa's funding came from government and the other half from commercial revenue.
