The chief technology officer at Callaghan Innovation returned home four months ago after 20 years of working in the United States, and is now touring the country advising Kiwis how to integrate newer technologies with their businesses.

“I noticed when I came back that our distance and isolation doesn’t have to hurt us,” he said. “We shouldn’t be behind, but we’re lagging on a global scale.”

And on Monday, Hartshorn will speak at the Devon Hotel to tell Taranaki business owners how they can take advantage of an ever-changing industry.

Though the Taranaki region relied heavily on oil and gas and dairy, Hartshorn believed these industries would see the biggest benefits.

“There’s a digital transformation in oil and gas on a global level that have earlier adopted utilising technology developments,” he said.

“We don’t look globally enough for innovation and we’re too self-reliant on what we develop in the country.

“There needs to be a willingness to look outside for potential innovation.”

And despite the economic downturn, he pressed that the Taranaki region could be greatly strengthened if certain industries took advantage of a lacklustre market.

[Source:-Stuff]