A network partner to the Impact Accelerator at Otago University, this lab will focus on integrating these technologies to support climate adaptation, smart farming and agriculture, provide real-time environmental monitoring, preserve cultural heritage, engage youth in STEM fields, and foster sustainable business practices.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, technologies like AI, machine learning, IoT, and automation are driving how data is produced, distributed, and consumed. Major platforms such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google use their data dominance to control digital markets, sparking debates about the role of data in the economy.

While data holds immense value, it also raises concerns about inequality and exploitation. However, there are exciting opportunities for collaboration to share data for the greater good, promoting sustainability and equitable growth.

In this post, we’ll explore how smaller organizations and nations in the South Pacific face unique challenges in harnessing data and adopting AI —often called the "data dilemma"—and share insights from the Impact Accelerator on what success could look like using the Data Value Toolkit currently under development.