15 DECEMBER 2011 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193 5659

3. Additional criteria

When assessing proposals and allocating Smart Ideas funding, the following additional criteria must be taken into account:

(a) Phase 1 funding should be provided as small grants, typically between $200,000 and $500,000 per year for two years;

(b) the size and duration of Phase 2 funding grants should be appropriate for the needs of each project; and

(c) Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding should be provided on the conditions that during the project the applicant must:

(i) receive advice or mentoring from an entrepreneur or similar commercialisation specialist to aid commercial positioning, or from an end-user or service provider who could potentially apply the research results; and

(ii) undertake or source some market analysis or user-needs analysis to aid positioning of the research project.

Schedule 2

Targeted Research Investment Mechanism

1. Policy objective

1.1 Targeted Research supports purpose driven research, science and technology aligned with national priorities that generate economic, environmental or social benefits for New Zealand. To increase the impact of the national science portfolio, knowledge transfer outputs and activities are an important part of the research programme.

1.2 Targeted Research addresses the strategic needs, challenges and opportunities identified in Sector Investment Plans and the corresponding research questions identified in Requests for Proposals.

2. Assessment criteria

Proposals for Targeted Research funding that meet the eligibility criteria for Science-led contestable funding must be assessed against the following assessment criteria, which are all weighted equally:

• Assessment of the opportunity or need in the New Zealand context
• Description of the potential contribution to outcomes
• Clarification of why the research is beyond “business as usual” | Proposals must be assessed on:
• Implementation plan, including mitigation of barriers to implementation
• Quality engagement with users, including the provision of co-funding if required |

| Research, science and technology benefits to New Zealand | Ability to deliver research, science and technology results (outputs) |
| Key Question: Is the research of high quality and will it generate new knowledge that can be applied to benefit New Zealand? | Key Question: What is the likelihood the team will achieve their proposed research outputs? |
| Proposals must be assessed on:
• Advancement of knowledge frontiers
• Project Plan | Proposals must be assessed on:
• RS&T track record of teams including appropriate collaborators
• Project management and support
• Plan for mitigation of technical challenges in the research |

Schedule 3

Enabling Technologies Investment Mechanism

1. Policy objective

1.1 Enabling Technologies supports purpose driven research, science and technology and related activities aligned with national priorities that generate economic, environmental or social benefits for New Zealand.

1.2 Enabling Technologies supports generic technologies that potentially have multiple applications and many connections across science and business. It also funds knowledge transfer and co-ordination activities linked to the research.

1.3 Enabling Technologies funding is designed to accelerate the development of “enabling technology platforms” and provide a core of expertise, knowledge and relevant infrastructure. An enabling technology platform is a critical mass of capabilities and equipment that is responsive to industry needs and that provide the means to enhance the performance and capabilities of the users.

1.4 Enabling Technologies will:

(a) build on existing capability in the RS&T system so there are not long start-up periods before impacts begin to accrue; and

(b) be closely aligned or partnered with users including industry so that pathways to development of tangible outcomes of benefit to New Zealand are incorporated from the outset; and