1840

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 69

2.1 For:
Output 1 (Animal Industries):
Output 2 (Dairy Industries):
Output 4 (Horticulture, Arable and Other Food and Beverage Industries):
Output 5 (Forestry and Forest Product Industries):
Output 6 (Fishing and Aquaculture Industries):

In these outputs the research strategy is to give appropriate weight to all segments of activity, from primary production through to processing and product specification and delivery, in supporting research which maximises added value. Funding guidelines should be set within each output that reflect the potential for research-driven added value at each stage. The requirements to consider added value should be balanced against the need to consider other goals or strategic issues within these outputs, such as sustainability.

2.2 For Output 4 (Horticulture, Arable and Other Food and Beverage Industries)

This output is very diverse and the needs and opportunities of the sectors encompassed within the output need to be separately considered. Components to be separately considered should at least include horticulture, arable production, and any food processing research which is not appropriately vertically integrated with production research. Funding guidelines should be established for each component which (amongst other things) take account of the significance of private sector funding and in particular the need to assist a smooth profile for total investment in those areas of research where new sources of private sector funding are still in the process of being introduced.

2.3 For Output 7 (Manufacturing Industries and Industrial Technology):

The strategy for this output is to give particular attention to the identification of areas of research which are linked to underpinning needs across or within the associated sectors. To this end explicit input is to be sought from the sectors. The strategy should have explicit regard for the interaction between public good science and technology, work funded through technology policy instruments such as Technology for Business Growth, and research funding from the private sector.

2.4 For Output 8 (Tourism, Commercial and other Services):

This output aggregates activities which are only loosely related. Tourism in particular is to be treated as a separate component and a strategy for this component developed. In developing the component strategy the Foundation is to especially recognise the possible need to be proactive in ensuring that good quality research proposals are brought forward to take up increased funding.

2.5 For Output 13 (Society and Culture):

This output aggregates activities which are only loosely related. Research on Maori issues is a particular priority for the Government. The support of research on Maori issues is to be allocated a target level of funding within the output which is never less than the existing 1995/96 level of funding in any year. However, the actual allocation of funding shall as in all other cases be subject to the availability of proposals of acceptable quality and relevance. The Foundation is to annually advise the Minister as to how research within this output is contributing to knowledge and understanding of Maori issues. This advice should be included in the evaluation referred to in section 7.2 of Appendix VI.

Particular attention is to be given to the smooth inter-linking of public good science and technology and policy-related research funded by Government departments, while recognising the clear limitations on the scope of public good science and technology.

3 Cross-output themes

The Foundation is required to prepare strategic statements covering each cross-output theme set out in Appendix IV. From a funding point of view, these statements are to be consequent upon the research strategies and not an input to them. These statements should identify:

• The strength and relevance of the theme in each of the 17 outputs.
• The indicative funding significance of the work associated with the theme, with this being the outcome of combining the indications in the 17 output level research strategies.
• Cross-output topics and/or issues associated with the theme which will assist in more clearly achieving the goals set out in this priority statement (rather than describing the disciplines or inputs to be used in delivering outputs).

An indicative and summary statement for each theme is to be produced in accordance with the same timetable as for research strategies i.e. by 30 September 1995. These summaries should represent the Foundation’s own view.

In the case of cross-output themes which are created as a consequence of announcing new National Science Strategy (NSS) topics, the Foundation shall produce a strategic statement no later than 6 months after being so advised by the Minister, and the statement shall take effect for the funding round which follows the subsequent date of 30 September.

The provisions covering revision of cross-output statements shall be the same as those for revision of output research strategies.

4 Monitoring

The preparation of research strategies and strategic statements for cross-output themes is to be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. To enable monitoring to occur the Foundation is to provide copies of penultimate drafts of each document to the Ministry at least two weeks prior to their final consideration by the Foundation, and will keep the Ministry fully informed of issues or changes which emerge subsequent to the provision of those drafts. The Ministry will be required to provide a brief critique of each document to the Minister. All Ministry critiques shall be made available to the Foundation.

However, the Foundation will not be required to obtain Ministerial approval for the content of strategies and statements. That decision will be the responsibility of the Foundation, for which it will be accountable.

Appendix VI—Guidelines for Allocating Funds

Management of allocations in strongly growing outputs:

1. Strongly growing outputs are those in which the target level of funding in the year 2000/2001 is at least 30% greater or $5m larger in absolute terms, than the level of funding in 1995/96. For these outputs:

1.1 A significant part of the additional funding should be allocated to new research endeavours rather than to the extension of funding for existing work.

1.2 Any barriers to the participation of non traditional providers i.e those not already funded through the output, should, where possible, be removed.

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