Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (“the foundation”) to allocate funds in accordance with the Backbone Research and Science Scheme (“the scheme”) as specified in this notice.
Nature of the Scheme
The scheme will fund, on a longer-term and non-contestable basis, assets and associated activities that:
? support nationally-important research, science and technology outcomes;
? are critical to the longer-term capabilities of the asset or activity’s stakeholders;
? provide a resource that is relevant and able to meet the needs of the asset or activity’s stakeholders;
? cannot withstand discontinuity of funding without their integrity being irrevocably compromised; and
? cannot be better managed by other available funding mechanisms.
Even if these criteria are satisfied, the scheme will not fund assets and associated activities that primarily support short or medium term research, science and technology outcomes.
Where the foundation decides that an asset or associated activity meets the above criteria and should receive
funding under this scheme, the foundation’s allocation
of funding will be subject to money being or having been appropriated to the scheme for the purpose of funding the allocation.
Scheme Objectives
The scheme’s objectives are to fund assets and associated activities, which may include assets that are essential infrastructure, nationally significant databases and collections, long-term datasets, and functions related to national and international obligations. The scheme will help to ensure:
? the preservation of assets and associated activities, for example maintaining the viability and longevity of samples; and
? the maintenance and development of assets and associated activities, for example adding new samples and data, and upgrading facilities.
Estimate of Funds
Actual appropriations for the scheme will be published each year in the Estimates of Appropriations.
Period of the Scheme
This notice is effective from 1 July 2008. I estimate the scheme will operate for a minimum of ten years from
the date of the notice.
Monitoring Agency
The scheme will be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.
Dated at Wellington this 28th day of April 2008.
HON PETE HODGSON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.