NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

2020 No. 78

programme will also encourage joint venture technology exploitation between enterprises and public sector science agencies to help in overcoming barriers to technology uptake.

It is expected that this programme will foster links between enterprises and research organisations with an aim of overcoming the lack of scientific and technological skills in enterprises. It is primarily designed to encourage enterprises to use scientific capabilities (particularly staff) to assist embryonic research programmes and innovation in those enterprises. Proposals can be initiated by the enterprise but in collaboration with the research organisation providing the capability.

In addition to the criteria set out above, the following additional criteria apply specifically to this programme:

• All proposals should be jointly made between an enterprise (or group of enterprises) and a suitable research institution. However the industry partner should be clearly in the lead role to ensure “ownership” of the outcome.
• Enterprises with effectively no or low levels of in-house r&d capacity or little record of r&d investment but demonstrating a commitment to a change in approach will be encouraged to apply.

The In-house R&D programme will co-fund research and technological development conducted by enterprises with no link to a public research agency with the principal aim of establishing an effective in-house research or technological capacity. (i.e., the programme will not support the use of an established capacity with no element of extension or expansion.) This programme is intended to catalyse important elements of strategic technology management in industry through the accumulation or extension of relevant technological skills and expertise.

The following criterion applies specifically to the In-house R&D programme:

• enterprises with effectively no or low levels of in-house r&d capacity, or planning to use funding to add up a new dimension to existing capacity, will be encouraged to apply.

Technology Transfer Programme

This programme is designed to promote the uptake in New Zealand enterprises of technology contained in, or able to be extended from the existing knowledge base. The programme will include technologies or practices developed by the Government’s historical investment in science in New Zealand but will extend to other sources of technology as well.

The following criteria apply specifically to this programme:

• Proposals must have the potential to achieve long term benefits to the industry sector and the economy.

• To maximise the impact of the programme across the whole economy, no single sector will be favoured (i.e., it is open to all sectors of the economy.) To ensure this, the programme will need to demonstrate broad sector coverage.

• The programme will favour technology transfer to multiple (as opposed to single) end users. Where one-on-one technology transfer is being supported, demonstrable spin-offs must be able to occur to other similar users.

• Funding may be channelled through “brokers” or consultants (which may be CRIs, specialist firms, industry associations or appropriately qualified individuals) who are able to establish a credible link between the knowledge base and groups of users.

• Funding should complement and not replace current funding for technology transfer activity being made by the private sector or other Government agencies.

• Proposals should generally be end use driven with demonstrable links to these users.

• The programme will aim to assist in overcoming generic problems in different industry groups or sectors rather than assisting individual users or suppliers of technology on an ad hoc basis.

3 Integration of proposals

Although the programmes are separately defined they overlap to some degree, and it is recognised that an integrated approach may often be sensible. Proposals may therefore fall into more than one category and this will not be a negative factor in proposal assessment.

4 Funding for the Scheme

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology will be appropriated $7,714 million through Vote: Research, Science and Technology for the 1996/97 financial year which will be disbursed to participants through the allocative processes adopted by the Foundation. Future appropriations for this Scheme will be dependent on the annual budgetary process of Government. The indicative funding split amongst the three programmes is as follows:

The Foundation will have the discretion to vary this funding split by 10% plus or minus to any one programme. Variations (either cumulative or singular) of greater than 10% will require the prior approval of the Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

For 1996/97, the Foundation can allocate and contract to provide funding up to or equivalent to the amount appropriated in the Estimates for 1996/97, for the first year of approved projects. Where the projects are to run for more than one year, funding for subsequent financial years will be met from appropriations provided in those subsequent financial years. Where approved projects do not proceed, or are prematurely terminated, funding approved for these projects but not expended may be reallocated to other approved projects. Such reallocations to new projects may be made in the current (i.e. 1996/97) or subsequent financial years. The Foundation may assume that the overall appropriation for the TBG scheme will not be reduced in future years without adequate notice being given, although no guarantees can be given in this respect.

5 Monitoring of the Scheme

Monitoring of the scheme, including the implementation of this Ministerial Instruction by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and the extent to which the Scheme achieves its stated objectives will be carried out by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

6 Period of Operation

This Scheme will operate each year until further notice.

3 The New Zealand Graduates in Industry Fellowships

Published in New Zealand Gazette: 17 August 1995.

This scheme is amended as set out below. The amended Scheme applies only to contracts made after the issue of this Notice to the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.