A $500 grant from the Dunedin City Council's economic development unit to "bring a VIP client to Dunedin" would help Benthic Science's technical development, director Brian Paavo said.
Mr Paavo's business, which specialises in environmental monitoring, was one of 20 that won flight vouchers from the council on Friday.
They came with free accommodation and food vouchers, and discounts to local attractions, donated by Dunedin businesses.
Mr Paavo said he had been negotiating with a Nelson firm on a strategic partnership that would help technical development.
A face-to-face meeting would bring faster progress than email exchanges.
He said his business used animals in the marine environment to monitor the environment's health.
Economic development unit manager Peter Harris said it was the second time the vouchers had been distributed.
The first time was earlier this year, when vouchers were made available for Dunedin businesses to visit their clients.
"Sometimes travel costs can be a barrier, so the economic development unit set out to make it easier," Mr Harris said.
"The fact that hotels, cafes and tourism attractions have been willing to add to the package shows the level of city-wide support for our initiative."
