NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 70

24 JUNE 2010

• build the RS&T capability and innovation potential of the user.

Relationship to Previous Investment Types

The Foundation has historically invested in this area using:

• research consortia.

Fellowships

Policy Objectives

The objective of this tool is to benefit New Zealand by building a research community capable of unlocking the distinct innovation potential of Māori knowledge, people and resources.

The tool will fund fellowships for the purpose of supporting undergraduate, post-graduate and early career stage New Zealand scientists, technologists and engineers to undertake RS&T of relevance to Vision Mātauranga.

Eligibility Criteria

The following entities are eligible to receive funding under this tool:

• Individuals with an appropriate RS&T track record.

To be eligible to receive funding under this tool, the RS&T activities must be relevant to one or more of the following four Vision Mātauranga themes:

• Indigenous innovation contributing to economic growth through research and development;
• Taiao – environmental sustainability through iwi and hapū relationships with land and sea;
• Oranga – improving Māori social well-being; and
• Mātauranga – exploring the interface between indigenous knowledge and RS&T.

Other Parameters

• Funding is contestable.

Relationship to Previous Investment Types

The Foundation has historically invested in this area using:

• Te Tipu Putaiao Fellowships.

Dated this 21st day of June 2010.

HON DR WAYNE MAPP, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

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Notice of Introduction of a Ministerial Scheme

Under Section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990—Biological Industries

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 Biological Industries Scheme (“the Scheme”) as specified in this notice.

Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the Scheme are to support sustainable productivity growth of New Zealand’s primary industries, and the development of premium food and industrial biological products and technologies responsive to global consumer preferences.

The Scheme will support research, science and technology (RS&T) that is intended to be of benefit to New Zealand. The Scheme will support relevant research that contributes to unlocking the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people as outlined in the Vision Mātauranga policy framework. International collaboration will be supported where this is relevant and of benefit to the objectives of the Scheme.

Indicators of Success

If successful, the Scheme will generate and support the uptake of research RS&T that will contribute to:

• enhancing the knowledge, capabilities and technologies which drive export growth and competitiveness in New Zealand’s biologically-based sectors and firms;
• increasing the levels of sustainable productivity in biologically based sectors while minimising and/or managing impacts on the environment;
• increasing the diversity and value of biologically-based products, in response to global consumer preferences;
• increasing the levels of technology transfer from government research investments to biologically-based sectors and firms; and
• enabling trade to occur in line with international obligations and in a manner that prevents the introduction or export of pests and diseases.

The above indicators will be measured by the Foundation at a sector level and will provide some indication of the success of the Scheme through regular evaluations.

Nature of the Scheme

The Scheme will achieve its objectives by supporting RS&T in the following two areas:

• Primary sector productivity and sustainability – encompasses research underpinning the development, sustainable production, processing and delivery to global markets of foods and materials from New Zealand’s primary industry. This includes the pastoral, horticultural, arable, seafood and aquaculture, and forestry sectors. It also includes broader cross-sector research programmes in areas important to all primary sectors such as biosecurity research.

• High-value food and industrial biological products, processes and technologies – encompasses research underpinning the development of food and industrial bioproducts, processes and technologies. These products will have embedded technology and intellectual property derived from processing and manipulation. This includes research to develop functional and manufactured food products and ingredients, nutraceuticals and supplements. It also includes the development of non-food natural products, such as renewable industrial biomaterials, and bio-sensing and bio-processing technologies.

Tools for Allocating Funding

RS&T supported under this Scheme must in each case fit one of the following tools:

• Science-led contestable funding – investing through a contestable process in RS&T and related activities.

• Long-term non-contestable funding – using non-contestable processes to invest in RS&T and related activities.

• Partnerships – support RS&T and related activities that provide for early and ongoing user engagement in RS&T and develops user-capability in engaging productively with researchers.

• Commercialisation and technology and knowledge transfer support – research to increase the stream of commercial prospects from publicly-funded RS&T, and supporting and equipping users to engage with research organisations and applying the results of publicly funded RS&T.

• Business-led R&D – research and development activities to increase New Zealand businesses’ investment in research and development to support increased productivity.