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 High Value Manufacturing and Services Research Scheme ("the Scheme") as specified in this notice.
Objective of the Scheme
The objective of the Scheme is to diversify New Zealand’s economy by undertaking research, science and technology (RS&T) that will enable the development of new technologies, novel materials and new products, processes and services resulting in the growth of existing, new and emerging industries.
The Scheme will support RS&T that is intended to be of benefit to New Zealand.
It is also expected that the Scheme will support relevant research that contributes to unlocking the innovation potential of Maori knowledge, resources and people as outlined in the Vision Matauranga policy framework. International collaboration will be supported where this is relevant and of benefit to the objectives of the Scheme.
Indicators of Success
If successful, the Scheme will generate and support the uptake of RS&T that will contribute to:
- increasing the number of New Zealand businesses which become established global exporters by leveraging intellectual property, including (but not limited to) that derived from New Zealand research;
- substantially increasing exports of high-technology goods and services from New Zealand; and
- enhancing sector performance from the use of new knowledge or technologies.
The above indicators will be measured by the Foundation at a sector level and will provide some indication of the success of the Scheme through regular evaluations.
Nature of the Scheme
The Scheme will achieve its objectives by supporting research, science and technology in the following four areas:
- Novel materials, manufacturing and applications - encompasses research including new products and services created by transforming materials and/or automating production, and improved efficiencies in production from new engineering tools or processes.
- Agri-technologies - encompasses research including new and emerging technologies based on New Zealand’s expertise in the agriculture and other primary sectors, particularly those technologies that exploit crossovers between agriculture and new materials, information and communications technologies, and health technologies.
- Health and medical technologies - encompasses research including new and emerging technologies
that impact on human health and wellbeing. This includes diagnostic and imaging devices, health IT,
drug discovery and delivery systems, and assistive and rehabilitative devices. Health services research is not included.
- Information, communication and digital technologies - encompasses productivity improvement tools, data management tools, communications technologies and digital tools for creativity.
Tools for Allocating Funding
RS&T supported under this Scheme must in each case fit one of the following tools1:
- Science-led contestable funding - investing through a contestable process in RS&T and related activities.
- Long-term non-contestable funding - using
non-contestable processes to invest in research,
science and technology and related activities.
- Partnerships - support RS&T and related activities that provides for early and ongoing user engagement in research, science and technology and develops user-capability in engaging productively with researchers.
- Commercialisation and technology and knowledge transfer support - research to increase the stream of commercial prospects from publicly-funded RS&T, and supporting and equipping users to engage with research organisations and applying the results of publicly funded RS&T.
- Business-led R&D - research and development activities to increase New Zealand businesses’ investment in research and development to support increased productivity.
Estimated Funding
An estimate of the amount of funds required to be
allocated by the Foundation for the purposes of the Scheme is $138.41 million in 2010/11, excluding GST. Actual funding available will be published each year in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.
Estimated Period of Operation
I estimate that the Scheme will operate for a minimum of three years from 1 July 2010; however I anticipate reviewing this notice by 1 July 2011.
Monitoring Agency
The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology will monitor and review the Scheme.
Performance Measures
Annual performance measures for the Scheme will be published in the annual Estimates of Appropriation. Additional performance measures to measure progress will be specified in the Output Agreement.
Dated this 1st day of June 2010.
HON DR WAYNE MAPP, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.
1A description of each tool is contained in the Supplementary Notice
of Tools for Ministerial Schemes under section 8A of the Foundation
for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, published in the
New Zealand Gazette on the same date as this notice.