5 NOVEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 3733

5 year period so as to achieve the target funding levels in the most effective and productive way. Strategies are to be developed through a process of widespread consultation with science providers, users of research in each science area and the associated sector.

A key consideration in developing science area research strategies should be the impact of funding from other sources, especially the private sector.

Science area research strategies should be formally advised to me, as they become available and no later than September 1993, to ensure that the implications of funding changes in particular are well understood and can be effectively managed.

Specific requirements for science area research strategies are set out in Annex E.

Priority Research Themes

Priority research themes, as set out in Annex F, are to be considered by the foundation in making funding allocations. Programmes relevant to priority research themes should be given priority consideration for funding, but this is not to be at the expense of maintaining a reasonable balance of relevant research across the PGSF. Relevance to a priority research theme should not override quality criteria.

Themes have been developed at three levels:

• generic themes across a large number of output classes;
• cross-output themes; and
• specific output themes.

As and when science area research strategies are developed, the Government may agree to modify themes or to concur with their incorporation into the science area research strategies.

National Science Strategies (NSS)

I wish to draw to the foundation’s attention two cross-output topic themes of particular importance to Government. These relate first to climate change and secondly to the control of possums and the threat of bovine tuberculosis.

These cross-output themes are the subject of National Science Strategies (NSS) which have been developed and will continue to be developed by Committees which I have appointed for this purpose. The foundation is to take account of the strategies produced by the National Science Strategy Committees, when selecting programmes for funding.

The foundation is also to ensure that research in the NSS on possums and bovine tuberculosis should have separately identifiable and costed components either within research programmes or as separate programmes, and that research in any other NSS topic areas should be clearly and separately costed.

The foundation is to report its expenditure on NSS-related programmes after each funding round.

Long-Term Programme Funding

I wish to emphasise the Government’s recognition of the long term nature of science and the necessity to fund appropriate programmes on a longer term basis. The guidelines which the foundation is to follow in this respect are set out in Annex G, part 1.

Databases, Curations and Collections

The Government considers that funding allocations should recognise the need to maintain and efficiently utilise science assets of national importance. The guidelines which the foundation is to follow in this respect are set out in Annex G, part 2.

International Collaboration

Science is becoming increasingly international in character, reflecting the increasing globalisation of economic activity, environmental and social issues, and the impact of communication and other new technologies. Internationalisation is recognised by the science community as a critically important factor. The guidelines which the foundation is to follow in this respect are set out in Annex G, part 3.

Information and Technology Transfer

I consider the transfer of information and technology derived from the research and development funded through the Public Good Science Fund to be an important consideration. It is only through the effective transfer, adoption and exploitation of the results of research and development that the outcomes desired by Government for New Zealand can be achieved.

The method the foundation is to apply to the treatment of information and technology transfer is set out in Annex G, part 4. However, the decisions on information and technology transfer should be applied on a case by case basis by the foundation without quantitative funding guidelines.

Types of Research

It is important that the foundation identifies and considers the balance of research effort directed to fundamental, strategic and applied research and experimental development.

Accordingly the foundation is to identify and monitor the breakdown between fundamental, strategic and applied research, and experimental development in each output class. Desirable shifts in this balance should be considered in applying the strategic goals specified in Annex A and in developing science area research strategies. The principles and definitions of these types of research and development activity are set out in Annex G, part 5.

Criteria for the Selection of Research Proposals

The selection of programmes must show a balance between the strategic importance of the research and its scientific quality. To achieve this, the foundation is to apply the selection criteria set out in Annex H. The foundation may apply additional criteria of its own which do not conflict with those in Annex H and which are in accordance with the requirements of the foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act.