TIN100 Report: $8b tech industry shows record growth

New Zealand's Tech Export Sector’s revenue has increased by 62% over the last decade to a record $8.3Billion, says the Technology Investment Network in its tenth annual TIN100 Report released today. The report measures the performance of the New Zealand technology export sector.

Greg Shanahan TIN Managing Director points to increased confidence across the tech sector with companies more focused on market leadership, as a key change in the ten years since the first TIN100 Report was published in 2005.

"New Zealand Technology companies are pursuing global domination in a way we would never have imagined or talked about when we produced the first TIN100 Report in 2005. Companies such Orion Health (health software), Xero (online accounting software), F&P Healthcare (medical devices), Weta Digital (digital effects), and Vista Entertainment Solutions (cinema & film industry software), are all good examples of this.

"With ten years of data it’s clear that the New Zealand Tech sector is heading in the right direction. In 2013-14 we’ve seen TIN100 & 100+ companies grow their combined annual revenues to $8. 3B, with $6.1B in exports: cementing technology as NZ’s third largest export sector behind dairy ($14.9B) and international tourism ($10.3B). Although it was the 17 companies with revenues over $100m that delivered the bulk of the increase, in 2014 we’ve had a record $52m or 8% growth for the smaller tech (TIN100+) companies. ICT continues to perform well, but manufacturing is back in growth mode," says Shanahan.

IT Services growth slowed for the $1.2B revenue TIN100 sector in 2014; but Software Development companies continued to grow strongly in most markets, increasing total revenue by 15% to $1.3B over the year. For TN100 and100+ companies this revenue is up +78% on 2010.

Manufacturing also grew in the areas of Healthcare, Primary Sector (Agritech) Technology and Airport Solutions/Logistics.

TIN100 Healthcare, a $1.3B export sector, grew by $125m (+ 11%) due to good performances from well known companies such as F&P Healthcare, Orion Health and AFT Pharmaceuticals.

"Primary Sector Technology, growing by +10% to revenues of $789m in 2014, is on its way to becoming the fourth NZ$1B TIN100 revenue secondary sector. Six of the 11 companies profiled in this sector have revenues over $50m and three over $100m. Rapidly increasing population, rising labour costs, global warming and water shortages are disruptive influences that are increasing demand for innovative primary sector technologies.

"Our largest tech companies are leading the charge in benefitting from a revived US economy. Since 2007 we’ve seen the number of TIN jobs grow from 24,700 to 35,200 in 2014 and the need for skilled employees in this area continues to outstrip supply.

TIN has identified several key themes for the tech sector over the last decade:

Increasing interest from global investors e.g. Xero, Vend, AFT Pharmaceuticals

Confidence to go after number one position in the market

Confidence to pitch for the big jobs

Confidence to invest heavily in R & D despite increased currency pressures

Smaller often provincial manufacturers having confidence to successfully target global markets despite their size.

In August, TIN announced the EY Ten Companies to Watch and TIN100+ Hot Emerging Companies with F&P Healthcare and IT company, Enprise Group topping the lists respectively.

The TIN100 Report monitors the performance of New Zealand’s 200 (TIN100 and TIN100+) largest technology exporters in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT), High-tech Manufacturing and Biotechnology. It is produced by the Technology Investment Network. Sponsors include Callaghan Innovation, NZTE, EY, Aon and Lumley.