3006 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 112 18 OCTOBER 2007

JUDY BARKER, Assistant Director (Production
& Processing) New Zealand Food Safety Authority (acting
pursuant to delegated authority).

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Research, Science & Technology

Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990

Notice of Revocation and Replacement of Government Priorities Under Section 7(1) of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990

Statement of Science Priorities

Under section 7(1) of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990 (“the Act”), the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (“the foundation”) is hereby advised of an amendment to the Government’s priorities that the foundation must adhere to in carrying out its functions under section 5(1)(a) of the Act.

This notice revokes and replaces all previous notices, issued under section 7(1) of the Act, published in the New Zealand Gazette.

Funds to which this notice applies

This statement sets out the Government’s policies and priorities that the foundation will have regard to in allocating funds that are not otherwise subject to a ministerial scheme issued under section 8A of the Act.

Priorities for allocating funds

Priorities to which the foundation must adhere to in allocating funds are:

• the annual Estimates of Appropriations for Vote RS&T;
• my Letter of Expectations to the foundation;
• the output agreement between the foundation and myself;
• current Roadmaps for Science (which currently includes those for Environmental Research, Biotechnology Research, Nanoscience, and Nanotechnologies and Energy Research); and
• any other priority setting documents that I may issue from time to time.

The foundation shall confer with the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology to ensure that the foundation’s allocation strategies, and the associated investment signals to the research sector, contribute to the Government’s objectives and the needs of the end-users of research and research organisations.

I expect the foundation to seek guidance on matters including, but not limited to:

• research organisations’ strategies;
• whole-of-government and government departments’ strategies;
• end-user and other private sector strategies.

Dated at Wellington this 7th day of October 2007.

HON. STEVE MAHAREY, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

New Zealand Gazette, 6 September 2001, No. 119, page 3107
New Zealand Gazette, 1 August 2002, No. 90, page 2434
New Zealand Gazette, 7 August 2003, No. 94, page 2479
New Zealand Gazette, 16 September 2004, No. 121, page 3008

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Notice of Introduction of a Ministerial Scheme

Under Section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990: The Pre-Seed Accelerator Scheme

Direction to: The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (“the foundation”).

Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, I direct the foundation to allocate funds in accordance with the Pre-Seed Accelerator Scheme (“the scheme”) as specified in this notice.

Nature of the Scheme

The scheme will facilitate the application of the results of research through supporting commercialisation. The scheme is also intended to foster commercialisation skills, technological learning and technological innovation by public sector research providers¹.

The intended outcome of this scheme is to increase the stream of commercial prospects from publicly funded research² carried out by public sector research providers, and develop these projects to the point where a private sector firm or other suitable commercialisation partner can be attracted.

The scheme will support experimental development and related pre-commercial activities³ that develop research undertaken by public sector research providers to an “investor-ready”⁴ point.

Scheme Objectives

Projects that meet the scheme’s objectives are eligible to receive funds from the foundation.

The scheme’s objectives are to:

• maximise the commercial benefits to New Zealand of previously publicly funded research;
• raise public sector providers’ commercial capabilities and skills; and
• improve public sector research providers links with potential private sector partners.

In making funding decisions, the foundation will fund those projects that, in its view, best meet the following criteria:

• Projects that commercialise previously publicly funded research;
• have a clear link to a business strategy focused on developing projects with strong commercial potential (especially to create new exports) to the “investor-ready” point;
• are likely to be started sooner and completed earlier because of the scheme’s support; and
• have the potential to generate an enduring wealth creating capability in New Zealand.

The foundation will have full discretion to manage the allocation of funds for the scheme in a way that will achieve the objectives of the scheme.

The Mechanism

The foundation, or a provider to whom the foundation has devolved funds, will use the scheme to fund a project, or portfolio of projects at an aggregate level, at up to 50% of the eligible costs⁵ that the provider will incur.

The provider may reprioritise existing foundation funds, up to a maximum of 12.5% of eligible costs.

The balance of the eligible costs may come from one or more of the sources listed below:

• The provider’s own discretionary funds;
• Other external funds, such as private sector co-investment, but excluding non-research funds sourced from public sector funding agencies.