Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (“the foundation”) to allocate funds in accordance with the Low-Carbon Energy Technologies Fund (“the fund”) as specified in this notice.
Nature of the Fund
The fund will assist public and private organisations, which have completed basic research and have demonstrated the potential of a new technology at proof of concept stage, to move through the pilot/demonstration plant stage.
The fund will not be used to support non-technology activities such as business case development or resource consent applications.
Fund Objectives
The fund’s objectives are to:
? support the New Zealand Government’s policy objectives for climate change, energy and transport; and
? develop the results of existing research in second generation domestic biofuels technologies, as a priority, and other low-carbon energy technologies up to and including pilot/demonstration plant stage leading to their commercial development and use in New Zealand.
Amount of the Fund
The amount required to be allocated for the purposes of the fund will be published in the Estimates of Appropriation.
I estimate that the total amount will be $12 million, appropriated as follows:
2008/2009—$4 million
2009/2010—$4 million
2010/2011—$4 million.
Period of the Fund
I estimate that the fund will operate between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2011, with recipients of the fund selected prior to then.
Funding Criteria
The foundation will fund proposals that:
? are consistent with the objectives of the fund;
? are made by public or private sector organisations based in New Zealand; and
? have a significant level of commercial/industry
co-funding.
Monitoring Agency
The fund will be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.
Dated at Wellington this 9th day of November 2007.
HON. PETE HODGSON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.