Zernike to build ties

Technology Park manager Zernike Australia is planning to widen its activities, with new chief executive Arnold Stroobach looking to build stronger ties with the university sector and establish new medical centres.

Mr Stroobach, who migrated from The Netherlands last October, succeeded long-serving chief executive Peter Why earlier this month.

Prior to migrating to Perth, Mr Stroobach ran his own technology consultancy in The Netherlands, which is home to Zernike’s parent company Zernike Group BV.

He said his initial appointment as Zernike’s chief operating officer was not part of a planned transition.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “Just before I came over, a lot of things happened and I had to deal with that when I was here.”

Technology Park, which has been operating for just over 20 years, is home to nearly 100 companies employing about 2,500 people.

Its biggest tenant is international pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Other companies to have operated there include Chemeq, Advanced Energy Systems, VibraQ and Intellect.

Mr Stroobach said his initial assessment of Technology Park was that it had not lived up to its full potential, in terms of adding value for the university and business sectors.

He said Zernike sought to tackle this challenge by providing access to knowledge, markets and funds.

“Zernike’s business model is that a technology park is like a springboard to optimise those three things in the triangle,” Mr Stroobach said.

Future priorities included building stronger ties with WA’s universities.

“When I look at the other technology parks Zernike manages in Europe, there is a closer connection between the parks and Zernike and the universities.

“In my opinion that is crucial but also I know from Europe it is quite difficult.”

Mr Stroobach said the universities agreed with this goal and were looking for ways to build ties.

He also wanted to build closer ties with the small business sector.

“It is hard for SME companies to get access to knowledge,” he said.

“It is the same in Europe, it is always hard for the little companies to get access to knowledge, and that is very important for innovation.”

Mr Stroobach said Technology Park had mainly focused on the information technology sector, which he said was served quite well.

His goal was to widen Zernike’s interests, particularly in the energy and biomedical sectors.

In that regard, Zernike has commenced discussions with the state government about establishing a cancer institute, with up to 200 beds, utilising a business model developed by German company ReHa Med GmbH and accounting firm KPMG.