Scion

What Scion does

Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute (legally New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited) that operates as a group under the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science following its 1 July 2025 merger with AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and Plant & Food Research into the Bioeconomy Science Institute. Founded in 1947 and headquartered at Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park in Rotorua, Scion employs roughly 300 science and corporate professionals across Rotorua, Christchurch, and Wellington, with an additional ~30 staff and students at the Christchurch office and a small strategic-relationships presence in Wellington. Its core mandate is applied research across forestry science, industrial biotechnology, bio-based products and technologies, environmental technologies, bioenergy, and advanced manufacturing.

Scion's technical stack spans CRISPR/transgenic gene editing of radiata pine and Douglas-fir (the only operating plant GM field trial in New Zealand, approved by the EPA through 2035); patented, petrochemical-free bioadhesives marketed as Ligate; biotransformation and industrial fermentation for bioplastics (PHA), biofuels, and biofertilisers; advanced tree breeding and a 10-hectare research nursery producing up to 700,000 seedlings annually; UAV/drone-based remote sensing using LiDAR, thermal, and multi-spectral imaging; and national reference collections of fungi, insects, herbarium specimens, and wood blocks. Products include the Ligate bioadhesive range, Woodforce wood-fibre plastic composites, Forest Health Diagnostics, PFAS and compostability testing services, and the Aerobiological Surveillance and Prediction (ASAP) biosecurity platform.

Scion's revenue model combines three streams: (1) government research funding through MBIE, MPI, MfE, DOC, and Callaghan Innovation (the dominant pillar); (2) commercial services — consultancy, R&D, testing, pilot plant development, and nursery services delivered to forestry companies, timber mills, pulp and paper manufacturers, packaging producers, and iwi/M_āori enterprises; and (3) intellectual-property licensing of technologies such as Ligate and Woodforce. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The organisation also holds a portfolio of trademarked brands (Ligate, Te Whare Nui o Tuteata, Scion Connect, Branching Out) and has been recognised through international architecture, sustainability, and biosecurity awards.

Name

Scion

Legal name

New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited

Website

https://scionresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute providing applied research in forestry, industrial biotechnology, and bio-based products and technologies, serving government agencies, commercial forestry and manufacturing companies, and M_āori iwi across New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry Research & Bioeconomy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood Grading, Testing & Certification Services (IMAMABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bark, Fibers & Thatching Materials Collection (Cork, Bamboo, Rattan, Palm) (AFAMAFAI)

Keywords

• Forestry science research
• Biobased product development
• Analytical laboratory services
• Bioproducts commercialization
• Forest health diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Core funding from New Zealand government through MBIE (contestable funding, SSIF, preseed accelerator funds), MPI (Primary Growth Partnership, SLMACC, Sustainable Farming Fund), Ministry for the Environment (contestable funds), Department of Conservation (partnership funds), and Callaghan Innovation.
2. Commercial Services: Consultancy, research and development, testing, pilot plant development and commercialisation of research. Services include forest health diagnostics, analytical laboratory services, nursery services, remote sensing, databases and collections, pilot and testing facilities.
3. Licensing and IP: Intellectual property licensing, commercialising technology, optimising value chains, and securing large-scale contracts.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Scion is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute that delivers applied forestry research, industrial biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing science. It sells research and development services, analytical laboratory testing, nursery and tree breeding services, remote sensing and digital forestry tools, and develops and licenses proprietary bio-based products such as Ligate bioadhesives and Woodforce wood-fibre composites. Its offering spans lab-scale science through pilot plant and testing facilities to commercialisation partnerships.

Product overview

Scion offers a comprehensive suite of research services, testing facilities, and specialized products for the forestry, industrial biotechnology, and bioeconomy sectors. Core services include Forest Health Diagnostics, Analytical Laboratory Services, Research Nursery, Remote Sensing (UAV/Drones), Databases & Collections, and Pilot & Testing Facilities. Specialized offerings include PFAS Testing Services, Compostability Testing, and bio-based products such as Ligate bioadhesives and Woodforce wood fibre plastic composites. The organization focuses on sustainable forestry research, bio-based product development, and environmental technologies serving commercial forestry companies, manufacturers, government agencies, and Māori enterprises across New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Te Whare Nui o Tuteata: The name gifted to Scion's three-storey wood-framed building, meaning the great house of Tuteata. It serves as Scion's front door for business visitors and the public.
• Branching Out Podcast
• Scion Connect
• Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park

Products and services

• Forest Health Diagnostics

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-fold increase in GDP from forests and manufacturing targeted by 2050
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bioeconomy Science Institute Consortium (AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Scion has merged with AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research and Plant & Food Research to form the Bioeconomy Science Institute. This consortium leads the $42.8 million Biodiscovery Platform over seven years to discover and develop bio-based products from New Zealand's unique native flora and fauna.
• Māori IwicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2025Partnership with Māori iwi to explore bioactive compounds in taonga plant species as part of the Biodiscovery Platform.
• CetogenixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Cetogenix project team (AgResearch, Cetogenix, BPA) led by Scion's Carla Cronje was recognized as Science New Zealand Award finalist for collaboration in advancing bioeconomy research, developing sustainable technologies for processing organic waste.
• EcogascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ecogas team led by Scion's Paul Bennett pioneering sustainable innovation with NZ's first commercial-scale biomethane and biofertiliser production facility, processing 75,000 tonnes of organic waste annually. Partnership with Pioneer Energy, EcoStock Supplies Ltd., and Scion.
• IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on forest genetics, biosecurity and management research.
• VTT (Finland)coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic collaboration on forest industry and new bioeconomy science and technology solutions.
• Fraunhofer Institute (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the bioeconomy research and development.
• VITO (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership addressing global sustainability challenges.
• Cluster CLIB2021minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on bioeconomy, industrial biotechnology, and green chemistry.
• FPInnovations (Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with like organisations internationally.
• AgriSeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on seaweed biorefinery for nanocellulose production, creating global impact using seaweed.
• ZespriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Scion to make all packaging 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
• UsedfullyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership turning unwanted clothing textiles into fibres for road surface reinforcement.
• Wilson and RossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership developing biodegradable nursery pots from biopolymers and biofiller as alternative to plastic pots.
• LanzaTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with LanzaTech co-founder Dr Sean Simpson on carbon conversion technologies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• AgResearch: New Zealand sister CRI focused on pastoral agriculture R&D that merged with Scion into the Bioeconomy Science Institute in July 2025. Closely comparable government-owned research-institute model and customer base (NZ primary sector).
• Plant & Food Research: NZ CRI for horticulture and plant-based food R&D, also merged into the Bioeconomy Science Institute in 2025. Shares Scion's CRI structure, government funding model, and primary-sector orientation.
• FPInnovations: Canada's national forestry research institute, structurally the closest peer to Scion — non-profit R&D body delivering forest science, wood products innovation, and bioeconomy commercialisation, with whom Scion has an existing strategic partnership.
• Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research: New Zealand CRI for land and biodiversity research; merged with Scion into the Bioeconomy Science Institute in 2025. Closely comparable in governance, funding model, and customer base (NZ primary sector, iwi/Māori).

Broad incumbents

• USDA Forest Service - Forest Products Laboratory: US federal forest products R&D lab. Comparable in scope (wood durability, engineered wood products) but materially larger and embedded within a much bigger government science apparatus.
• Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's applied research network with institutes covering bioeconomy, wood research (WKI), and environmental technologies. Functions as a larger, multi-domain analogue of Scion's applied-research model.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's state-owned applied R&D organisation with deep forestry and bioeconomy programmes; an existing Scion strategic partner. Comparable scale (~2,000+ staff) but broader scope beyond forestry.

Emerging players

• LanzaTech: NZ-founded carbon-capture biotech commercialising gas fermentation to biofuels and chemicals. Direct collaborator with Scion and a model for translating NZ bioeconomy research into a private, venture-backed commercial entity.
• Innventia / RISE: Sweden-based forest products and biorefinery R&D group now part of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Closely comparable in scope (wood, pulp, biorefining) but operates in a more industrial-scale Scandinavian market.

Others

• Scion Bioeconomy Science Institute: The new parent body (effective 1 July 2025) formed by merging Scion with three other NZ CRIs. Not a peer so much as the umbrella organisation Scion now operates within, distributing $231M / 4-year funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@scionnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scion

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scion