Direction To: The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology ("the foundation").
Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, I direct the foundation to allocate funds in accordance with the Technology for Industry Fellowship Scheme ("the scheme") specified in this notice.
This notice revokes and replaces the notices dated
17 August 1995, 1 August 1996 and 10 July 1997 which established and amended the Graduates in Industry Fellowships Scheme.
Nature of the Scheme
The scheme supports science and technology-based projects that develop individuals' skills and knowledge in commercial research and development environments.
The outcome should be an enhanced level of scientific and technology-based human capital in participating firms1.
The scheme will target all firms.
Scheme Objective
Projects that meet the scheme's objective are eligible to receive funds from the foundation.
The scheme's objective is to increase the level of exposure to, and understanding by, individuals of the commercial research and technological development environment.
Mechanisms of Support
The foundation will use the scheme to allocate funds to:
- provide salary support for the secondment of individuals between a firm and a research provider2 to undertake a commercially-focused science or technology project; or
- provide salary support for the placement of individuals, from senior undergraduate to expert level, to undertake a commercially focused science or technology project; or
- provide a stipend for an individual to undertake a commercially-focused science or technology project while undertaking a postgraduate tertiary qualification.
The foundation may require a firm(s) to fund up to 50% of the project costs. More projects may meet the scheme's objectives than there are funds available. The foundation will fund those projects that, in its view, best meet the following criteria:
- are supported by a firm(s) and, where necessary, are supported by an appropriate research provider; and
- the individual will be of at least undergraduate level working towards a tertiary qualification, or be qualified in the fields of science, engineering or technology relevant to the project.
The foundation will have full discretion to manage the allocation of funds for the scheme in a way that achieves the outcome and objective of the scheme.
All projects funded pursuant to this notice must comply with the terms of the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette on 22 June 2000, No. 67, page 1485, that records the Voluntary Moratorium Discussed Between the Government and Persons Involved in the Field Testing or Release of Genetically Modified Organisms.
Funding to be Allocated
Funding for the scheme will be $3.5 million (G.S.T. inclusive) in 2000/01 financial year. Funds available for the scheme will be published each year in the Estimates of Appropriations.
The foundation will have the discretion to allocate up to 10% of funding for this scheme:
- to the TechLink Scheme or the Technology for Business Growth Scheme; or
- between the TechLink Scheme and the Technology for Business Growth Scheme
if all schemes involved in the allocation are appropriated within the same non departmental output class under the Public Finance Act 1989.
The Minister of Research, Science and Technology's written approval is required before the foundation can allocate 10% or more than 10% of the scheme to any other scheme issued by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990.
Period of Operation
The scheme will commence operation on 1 July 2000 and is estimated to continue for a period of five years from 1 July 2000.
Monitoring Agency
Monitoring of the scheme, including implementation of this Ministerial notice by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and the extent to which the scheme achieves its stated objective, will be carried out by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.
Dated at Wellington this 22nd day of June 2000.
PETE HODGSON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.
1A firm is defined as a body corporate or other entity that has a legal personality or existence distinct from those of its members (including sole traders) and is resident in New Zealand. For the purposes of this scheme, a firm excludes any Crown owned body corporate or other entity (including but not limited to those that are governed by the Education Act 1989, or the Local Government Act 1974 or the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992).
2A research provider is defined as a public or privately owned organisation whose activity is scientific and technology-based research.