Direction to: The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (“the foundation”).
Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, the foundation is directed to allocate funds in accordance with the New Economy Research Fund Scheme (“the scheme”) specified in this notice.
This direction comes into effect on 1 November 2008.
This direction revokes and replaces the previous direction dated the 20th day of July 2006, issued to the foundation for Research, Science and Technology, under section 8A of the Act, and published in New Zealand Gazette, 27 July 2006, No. 85, page 2649.
To avoid doubt, allocation of funds under the scheme must be consistent with the “Stable Funding” direction issued to the foundation under section 103 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, which came into effect on 1 July 2008 (New Zealand Gazette, 27 March 2008, No. 64, page 1861), as that direction may be amended from time to time.
The New Economy Research Fund Scheme
The Nature of the Scheme
The New Economy Research Fund (“NERF”) invests in investigator-initiated research that stimulates the emergence and growth of new knowledge-intensive enterprises for the benefit of New Zealand by providing investment for:
? investigator-initiated research covered under the NERF scheme to date (“original NERF”); and
? the new Transformational Research, Science and Technology investments (“TRSTs”).
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.
A TRST may become a Stable Funding platform over time.
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; and
? 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.