13 NOVEMBER 2008 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 175

Original NERF investment aims to develop capability and knowledge in new areas to support technology-based business opportunities.

Its focus is on targeted-basic research and human capital development, and on developing new knowledge to a point where business opportunities can be assessed.

It encourages research of an interdisciplinary nature and active international linkages with teams at the forefront of research.

Original NERF research may be a:

• Project – of short term duration aimed at developing a new idea and/or new researcher; or
• Programme – of medium to long term duration focussed on the significant delivery of outcomes; or
• Platform – of long term duration, created from Stable Funding, that delivers on externally led or endorsed strategies, large in scope, impact and effort with streams of applications over time.

TRSTs aim to develop world leading technological capabilities through consolidating existing research into an underpinning platform technology able to support a range of applications and products that can help establish high technology business opportunities.

TRSTs are intended to incorporate additional activities alongside the research component; therefore TRST funding can be used for any one or more of the following activities:

• Research that builds on, and has synergies with, but does not duplicate existing research; and
• intensification of existing research that has potential for commercialisation and/or is necessary for creating the underpinning platform technology; and
• multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches including social science; and
• proof of concept activities; demonstration projects and process and/or production engineering; and
• engagement and communication activities that develop profile for the research; and
• facilitators to actively develop the TRST, and appropriate networks and linkages between researchers and users of research.

The Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• support investigator-initiated research (public or private) that has the potential to create advanced technologies;
• utilise advanced technologies (New Zealand and international) to stimulate the emergence and growth of new knowledge-intensive enterprises for the benefit of New Zealand; and
• develop advanced human capital and skills in New Zealand; and
• in the case of TRSTs, utilise advanced technologies (New Zealand and international) to stimulate the emergence and growth of new knowledge-intensive enterprises more rapidly than may otherwise have occurred.

A new knowledge-intensive enterprise covers enterprises that are new to or emerging in New Zealand or that leverage off existing New Zealand enterprises.

Eligibility Criteria

The foundation is to allocate funds to research proposals that meet the scheme’s objectives and that:

• are investigator-initiated; and
• stimulate the emergence and growth of new knowledge-intensive enterprises; and
• meet international standards of excellence as judged by international, or relevant peers; and
• additionally, in the case of TRSTs, best demonstrate:
  • distinct research and related activities that accelerate the proof of concept and potential application of any research into identified high technology business opportunities, to stimulate the emergence and growth of new knowledge-intensive enterprises; and
  • the incorporation of appropriate business development, commercial expertise and connections to industry alongside the research activity, to strengthen links to customer and market demand.

Persons, including bodies corporate, which may be eligible for funding are:

• persons that ordinarily carry on activities in New Zealand and are either a natural person domiciled or resident in New Zealand or a body corporate established under the laws of New Zealand; or
• international collaborations, provided that at least one of the collaboration’s members is a person that ordinarily carries on activities in New Zealand and is either a natural person domiciled or resident in New Zealand or a body corporate established under the laws of New Zealand.

The research must be carried out in New Zealand unless there are exceptional circumstances that mean some of the research needs to be carried out overseas, for example, for the purpose of accessing equipment that is not available in New Zealand.

Funding Estimate

The amount of funds available for the scheme is estimated at $73 million per annum.

Actual funding will be published in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.

The foundation’s output agreement may include requirements about the proportion of funds that should be allocated to TRSTs.

Period of Operation Estimate

It is estimated that the scheme will operate for a minimum of five years from the date of this notice.

Monitoring

The scheme will be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (“MoRST”).

In particular, but without limitation, MoRST will review the implementation of the first TRSTs before December 2010.

Revocation

The notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 27 July 2006, No. 85, page 2649, which provided direction on the New Economy Research Fund Scheme, is revoked.

Dated at Wellington this 2nd day of November 2008.

HON PETE HODGSON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.