NZ announces significant reforms to science sector

New Zealand’s Science, Innovation and Technology Minister, Judith Collins, has announced what is believed to be the largest reset of the country’s science sector in more than 30 years. The announcement followed consideration of the first report delivered by the Science System Advisory Group, and includes reforms which are intended to boost the economy and benefit the sector.

“The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into the science sector each year, creating a more dynamic science, innovation and technology system that can respond to priorities and keep pace with technological advances,” Collins said.

“Getting the system settings right is the best way to boost long-term economic performance and ensure our scientists can pursue meaningful careers in New Zealand.”

The government explained that the reforms will:

• transform the current seven Crown Research Institutes into three Public Research Organisations (PROs) focusing on bio-economy, earth sciences, and health and forensic sciences;
• establish an advanced technology PRO to deliver research, capability and commercial outreach around technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum and synthetic biology;
• establish a Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council to provide strategic direction and oversight of the system;
• establish a new agency, Invest New Zealand, to help the government reach its goal of doubling exports by 2034;
• develop a national policy for managing intellectual property (IP) for science, innovation and technology-funded research; and
• disestablish Callaghan Innovation and move its most important functions to other parts of the system.
   

“The four new PROs will be designed to maximise the long-term NZ Inc benefits,” Collins said. “They will be adaptable and responsive to government priorities, accountable through appropriate cost recovery, and set up to be well-coordinated and to avoid unnecessary duplication. The PROs will also look for partnerships with private sector investors in research capability, facilities and knowledge production.

“Callaghan Innovation will be disestablished and its most important functions moved to other entities. Callaghan has simply been spread too thinly across too many functions, leading to poor financial performance and an over-reliance on Crown funding.

“The new Prime Minister’s Science Innovation and Technology Advisory Council is charged with setting national priorities for the system, including across the four PROs. A key role of the Council will be to make sure the taxpayer funding that goes to the sector is spent in the best way possible to grow the economy, because innovation and technology are the future.

“Invest New Zealand will be the government’s one-stop shop for foreign direct investment, excluding public infrastructure, and will be an autonomous Crown entity. It will be focused on attracting greater investment into truly innovative activities in existing sectors and those with high potential to raise productivity and drive economic growth, as well as greater research and development investment and innovative activity in New Zealand by multinational companies.

“The government wants to reward and incentivise people in the industry and will therefore develop a national policy for managing intellectual property (IP) for science, innovation and technology-funded research.

“We will also be considering how this policy will apply to the new PROs, with the intention being that researchers receive a share of the financial rewards from commercialising intellectual property.”

Collins said the new reforms will ensure a science system that generates maximum value for the economy and, therefore, for New Zealanders. For more information, including an indicative timeline for implementation of the reforms, click here.

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