Cash Sponsors

The Challenge is a private and public sector partnership. Three primary sponsors have financially supported The Challenge.

Platinum Sponsors

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) is the Government’s principal funding and investment agency for health research. It is responsible for investing government monies allocated for health research. As a Crown entity, the HRC is responsible to both the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Research, Science and Technology. The HRC’s mission is ‘benefiting New Zealand through health research’. This includes support for biomedical and clinical research, public health research, health services research and research which addresses the health needs of Māori and Pacific peoples.

The HRC’s statutory functions include:

• advising the Minister and administering funds in relation to national health research policy
• fostering the recruitment, education, training, and retention of those engaged in health research in New Zealand
• initiating and supporting health research
• undertaking consultation to establish priorities in health research
• promoting and disseminating the results of health research to encourage their contribution to health science, policy and delivery, and
• ensuring the development and application of appropriate assessment standards by committees or subcommittees that assess health research proposals.

For more information, telephone the HRC on (09) 303 5200 or visit their website: www.hrc.govt.nz.

Silver Sponsors

Edwards Lifesciences is a global leader in products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, the global leader in acute hemodynamic monitoring and the number-one heart valve company in the world. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Edwards has more than 5,600 employees worldwide, selling medical technologies in nearly 100 countries with 2007 sales of $1.091 billion.

For more information visit www.edwards.com

Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft has more than 94,000 employees worldwide, selling software, online business solutions and entertainment devices in over 107 countries with 2007/2008 sales of over $60 billion.

For more information visit www.microsoft.co.nz

Southern Cross Healthcare Group is one of New Zealand’s best known and most trusted brands, offering a broad range of health-related services to hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. The Southern Cross health insurance business insures around one in five Kiwis, Southern Cross Hospitals is a network of 17 wholly owned or joint venture facilities, and Southern Cross Travel Insurance is a leading online travel insurance provider.

For more information visit www.southerncross.co.nz