31 JULY

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

1927

technology to diverse social, economic and environmental goals.

The Foundation’s management of funding for public good science and technology is the Government’s single largest investment aimed at contributing to the third goal. It is also expected to make a major contribution to the first goal. The Government’s goals for this large strategic investment are set out below.

High-level Goals for Public Good Science and Technology

• Enhance New Zealand’s capacity to innovate through knowledge creation and by developing capabilities and networks.
• Improve the international competitiveness of New Zealand’s enterprises by increasing the contribution of knowledge to the added value of products, processes and services throughout the value-chain.
• Enhance and protect New Zealand’s environment and natural resources by increasing knowledge of biophysical systems and hazards and human interactions with them, and by supporting the development of technologies for sustainable management of our environment.
• Contribute to well-being, equity and inclusiveness in New Zealand society by increasing knowledge of our own and others’ cultures, societies, economies, histories and international contexts, and by supporting the uptake and use of such knowledge.

2. Policy Principles

2.1 Achievement of Outcomes

The Government invests in public good science and technology to deliver social, environmental and economic outcomes. In this context, outcomes are the effects on the community of the Government’s investment in public good science and technology. Public good science and technology often contribute to outcomes indirectly, through the development of new products and processes, or new ways of delivering services. There are many other contributing factors, and the timescales can be very large. However, it is important that public good science and technology be conducted in a purposeful manner, with outcomes as the driving motivation for the work. It is also important that critical success factors, which are known to increase the chances of achieving effective outcomes, are recognised, promoted through purchasing policy, and measured.

The ultimate performance measure for the Foundation’s management of funding and for the investment itself is their contribution to outcomes. The Foundation has been evolving its structures and procedures to focus more clearly on achieving outcomes. In particular, the Foundation is developing the capacity to purchase portfolios of science and technology, and to foster different kinds of technological learning and relationships between providers and users. The Government wishes to see these developments continue as a matter of priority.

2.2 Purchase of Outputs

The Foundation is to contribute to outcomes by strategically allocating funds for the production of portfolios of outputs relating to public good science and technology. The scale and duration of elements of the portfolios are to be consistent with the scope and timescale required to fulfil, or achieve measurable progress towards, the strategic goals for each of seventeen “output classes”. Output classes and their respective strategic goals are listed in Annex 1.

“Outputs” simply means goods or services and includes knowledge and information.

“Public good science and technology” means science (including the physical, biological and social sciences) or technology—

(a) That is likely to increase knowledge or understanding of the physical, biological, or social environment; or

(b) That is likely to develop, maintain, or increase skills or scientific or technological expertise that is of particular importance to New Zealand; or

(c) That may be of benefit to New Zealand, but is unlikely to be funded, or adequately funded, from non-governmental sources.

The Foundation is to consider portfolios comprising public good science and technology spanning the wide range of possible activities (such as research, skill development in areas of strategic importance, development of technological expertise to underpin national competitiveness) permitted by the definition above, which in aggregate will contribute to achieving strategic goals for the benefit of New Zealand.

2.3 Access and Contestability

The Foundation is to purchase science and technology from the mix of providers which in the view of the Foundation is best able to contribute to the strategic goals within the seventeen output classes listed in Annex 1. Any individual, public or private enterprise or organisation, including government departments, may submit proposals for funding. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the capability to carry out the proposed programme themselves.

The only “eligibility” test to be applied to the activities comprising a proposal for funding is whether the programme both contributes to the goals for public good science and technology, and falls within the definition of public good science and technology outputs set out in the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990. Where there appears to be overlap with the interest of other purchasers, the Foundation is to work collaboratively with those purchasers so that proposals falling into borderline areas are not disadvantaged, and so that the overall contribution to outcomes is maximised. Overlaps in the funding system is preferred to gaps.

Because Government departments can be broadly considered to be agents “for the public good”, but also have access to other Crown funding for science and technology, additional clarification of issues surrounding their access to funding from the Foundation is set out in Annex II.

The Foundation must operate a transparent and contestable process for making its purchasing decisions. Where appropriate, proactive measures should be adopted, such as inviting tenders for defined pieces of work after consulting with potential providers and interested stakeholders.

2.4 Full-Cost Funding

Public good science and technology is to be fully funded in such a way that the contribution to outcomes is achieved in the most efficient and effective manner. Inevitably, contributing to outcomes will involve the integration of a wide range of activities collectively employing a wide range of assets. Such activities could include research, technology development and technology transfer, international links and promotion of awareness and understanding of science and technology amongst stakeholder groups. The development and maintenance of science and technology assets, including databases and collections, should be funded in full as part of public good science and technology.