3740

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 179

2. Databases, Curations and Collections

Arrangements should be set in place by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology through a process of consultation with the science community, science providers, other funders and users if appropriate, to:

• identify databases, curations and collections of significant national importance that are funded through the PGSF which may include those type of asset which are subject to “covenants” in assets transferred to CRIs;
• ensure that the maintenance of each of these assets is funded and costed as an identifiable component within the foundation’s total portfolio, and as a priority within the relevant output classes; and
• ensure that a condition of funding is to provide access to these assets for scientific and other purposes by users, subject to the recovery of costs in providing such access.

The foundation is charged with taking the lead role, and should specifically integrate database, curation and collection issues into the research strategies in the appropriate science areas. The establishment and abandonment of nationally important databases should be carried out through a process of widespread consultation. This is to ensure that irreparable damage is not done to existing databases, curations and collections by expedient action.

3. International Collaboration

The foundation should identify international networking and collaboration in PGSF funded programmes, and should encourage such international links where these are appropriate to specific programmes.

4. Technology/Information Transfer

The foundation should require proposals put forward for funding to include consideration of technology and information transfer and to state separate technology and/or information transfer objectives where appropriate.

5. Fundamental, Strategic, Applied Research and Experimental Development

The foundation should require science providers to identify and monitor the breakdown between fundamental, strategic and applied research, and experimental development in each output class, and apply the strategic goals as stated in Annex A and consider the balance when applying the strategic goals in the development of strategies within science areas; with a particular emphasis on ensuring that increases in funding provide additional fundamental and strategic research and do not displace industry funding for applied research.

The definitions of the types of research to are identified as follows.

Fundamental Research: Research activities undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view. Sometimes referred to as pure or basic research.

Strategic Research: Research activities conducted to support long-term “national needs” and directed into specific broad areas in expectation of useful discoveries, or providing the broad knowledge base necessary for solution of recognised practical problems.

Applied Research: Research activities to acquire new knowledge which is directed primarily towards a specific and pre-determined objective or application, and including possible uses for the findings of fundamental research.

Experimental Development: Systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience that is directed to producing new materials, products or devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed.

Annex H: Criteria for the Selection of Research Proposals

In selecting research proposals for funding, the foundation should:

(a) ensure that the following pre-conditions are satisfied:

(i) the proposal comprises public good science outputs as defined in the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990;

(ii) proposers supply all the information requested by the foundation and required by the Ministry in order to effectively monitor the implementation of the priority statement.

(b) ensure that the association of the research programmes with output classes accurately reflects the nature of the research proposed, even if this requires a proposal to be proportionately associated with several output classes.

(c) apply the following criteria:

(i) the degree of scientific and technical merit;

(ii) the inclusion, where practicable and appropriate, of collaboration between research providers;

(iii) contribution to the fulfilment of the Government’s priorities;

(iv) the capability of the science provider to deliver the public good science outputs to the standards required; and

(v) relevance to indicative research strategies and topics developed as part of the National Science Strategy policy.

Dated at Wellington this 30th day of September 1992.

SIMON UPTON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

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