NZ AI Research Institute
A collaboration between University of Canterbury and University of Waikato.
A focus on AI in dynamic, outdoor environments.
$70M
In MBIE funding plus co-investment
AI for Dynamic Real-World Environments
Outdoor industries operate in some of the most complex and variable environments on earth. Farms, forests, infrastructure networks, and environmental systems are shaped by constantly changing weather, biological processes, terrain, and human activity.While artificial intelligence has made significant advances in controlled digital environments, applying AI reliably in these dynamic real-world settings remains a major challenge. Systems must operate with limited connectivity, constrained energy resources, shifting sensing conditions, and high requirements for safety and reliability.The AI Platform brings together researchers, industry partners, and technology innovators to address these challenges and advance the next generation of intelligent systems designed for complex outdoor environments.
A Platform for Industry-Driven Innovation
The platform is grounded in close collaboration with industry. Through ongoing engagement with organisations across primary industries, environmental systems, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure, we are identifying shared challenges where advances in AI could unlock significant productivity, sustainability, and operational improvements.Rather than developing one-off solutions for individual organisations, the platform focuses on building foundational capabilities that can support a wide range of real-world applications. These capabilities have the potential to enable new technologies, products, and services across multiple sectors.Industry partners play a critical role in shaping the research direction of the platform, helping ensure that the work undertaken addresses real operational challenges and opportunities.
Unlocking New Economic Opportunities
By advancing AI systems capable of sensing, learning, and acting reliably in dynamic environments, the platform aims to support a new generation of technologies for industries that operate outside controlled digital settings.These capabilities have the potential to improve productivity, reduce operational risk, support better decision-making, and enable the development of world-exportable technologies. Over time, this work may contribute to new technology ventures, strengthened innovation ecosystems, and expanded opportunities for New Zealand to lead in AI designed for real-world environments.
Working Together
The platform is being developed through collaboration between researchers, industry partners, technology companies, and investors who share an interest in advancing AI for complex real-world environments.If you are interested in learning more about the platform or exploring opportunities to collaborate, we welcome the opportunity to connect.