2552

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 126

Research, Science and Technology

Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990

Dr I Axford
Chairperson
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
P O Box 12 240
WELLINGTON

Dear Dr Axford

In accordance with section 8 of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to allocate funds under the Ministerial Scheme “Technology for Business Growth”.

The funds allocated are intended to develop, or assist in the development of, skills relating to research, science and technology, and to promote or facilitate the application of the results of research and technological developments. Annex A details the specific nature, objectives, criteria, and funding levels applying to the Scheme, and nominates the agency that is to monitor the scheme.

The Foundation is to report to me on the operation of the Scheme within two months of the end of each financial year. The report will review the allocations made under the scheme for that year, including factors such as industrial sector, ownership, firm size, level of project funding and the various sources of funding. The general character of unsuccessful bids to the Scheme should be commented on. The report should also provide an assessment of the scheme in relation to any performance measures identified for the allocation of funds on behalf of the Crown for technological innovation in the Foundation’s Corporate Plan.

Monitoring action by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology shall comprise a commentary on the report provided by the Foundation.

In accordance with the Foundation Act, this notice will be published in the Gazette and a copy laid before the House of Representatives.

Yours sincerely

SIMON UPTON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

Annex A

Ministerial Scheme

Technology for Business Growth Scheme

The Nature of the Scheme

The Technology for Business Growth Scheme (TBG) is intended to develop, or assist in the development of, skills relating to research, science and technology and to promote or facilitate participation in the development of technologies and the application of the results of research or technological developments.

This scheme is designed especially to catalyse changes in management practices and attitudes towards technology through “learning by doing” (e.g. by part funding enterprise access to and adoption of technology). Better performing enterprises will increase the possibility of

• a sustainable and appropriate level of private sector investment in technology creation and adoption;
• enhanced collaboration between public sector research agencies and industry; and ultimately
• enhanced economic performance and employment.

In general, the scheme is intended to assist enterprises that do not use technology competently or strategically in their business activities. Furthermore, the scheme will not fund projects that enterprises would have carried out anyway in the course of their business.

Assistance will be offered in the form of ;

• part funding of the placement of scientists and technologists into companies;
• part funding joint research projects between enterprises and suitable research agencies;
• assisting enterprises to access the existing knowledge base, including that generated by the government’s own investment in public good science but not exclusively; and
• assisting enterprises to establish and enhance their own research and technological capability.

Research agencies who might participate in the scheme include:

• Crown Research Institutes.
• Government Departments.
• Research Associations, and other similar organisations.
• Polytechnics.
• Universities.

The Objectives of the Expanded Technology for Business Growth Scheme

The objectives of the scheme recognise that there are too few firms strategically managing technological innovation, and there are still poor linkages between the private sector and research institutes. The specific objectives of the expanded Technology for Business Growth Scheme are to;

• encourage New Zealand enterprises (particularly those companies that are not strategically managing their technology requirements) to utilise r&d and technology as part of competitive strategy;
• encourage New Zealand enterprises to use the existing technological knowledge base where appropriate, particularly that expertise and capital created by the Government’s investment over the years in public good research; and
• encourage New Zealand enterprises to establish in-house research, technological and innovative capabilities, and to integrate the use of those capabilities into their overall competitive strategies.

The scheme will aim to fund projects which will preferably result in a permanent change in the behaviour of the enterprise involved and, through commercially successful application of technology, provide an effective example or role model for other enterprises in the same industry or sector. The scheme could also demonstrate an approach to overcoming a generic problem (actual or attitudinal) with a sector or group of enterprises.

The broad criteria or constraints which will apply to all programmes within the scheme are as follows:

• The scheme will not target specific sectors, rather there will be a general requirement to ensure that the scheme spreads over a number of sectors rather than concentrated on just a few.
• The scheme will be aimed at funding initiatives which result in establishing or enhancing technological capability or capacity within enterprises, and which would not otherwise received adequate support ie funds will not support projects which would have gone ahead anyway.