Trans-Tasman science treaty formed

The longstanding rivalry between Australia and New Zealand may finally be coming to an end, with ministers from both countries coming together last week to sign the Australia–New Zealand Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement at the Australia New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting in Queenstown.

Signed on Friday by Australia’s Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Arthur Sinodinos, and New Zealand’s Minister for Economic Development, Transport and Communications, Simon Bridges, the first-of-its-kind treaty is a commitment to valuable collaboration across the innovation and science systems, and between researchers and innovative companies, on both sides of the Tasman.

Concluding a year of intense negotiations, the agreement sets out a work program that will provide a valuable focus-point for collaboration which is vital to both Australia and New Zealand economic growth. Key initial proposals include mapping collaborative research opportunities, research infrastructure planning and investment, standards and measurement research, and the exchange of experts, knowledge and expertise.

The agreement also provides for a wide array of future initiatives, such as common science priorities, working together in other international endeavours and the promotion of a trans-Tasman innovation ecosystem for talent and investment attraction.

As part of the work program, the Australian and New Zealand governments have announced they will be collaborating in a two-year trial of satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) — positioning technology which is expected to improve air navigation, smartphone-based services, asset management and precision agriculture, as well as the deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles.

The $12 million project was originally announced by the Australian Government in January this year. New Zealand will now be contributing $2 million towards the project, which will be the first in the world to utilise next-generation SBAS technology.

“This is a world-leading trial that will allow us to investigate how New Zealand might benefit from the added precision SBAS adds to current and future global navigation satellite systems,” said New Zealand’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester.

“While current GPS locations are accurate to within 5 to 10 m, the SBAS test-bed could improve positioning to within as little as 10 cm. This means that a vehicle will recognise the road it is travelling on, but also which lane it is in and its distance from surrounding objects.”

The project will involve Geoscience Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) working closely with New Zealand organisations including Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the NZ Transport Agency, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the Ministry of Transport. Technology companies GMV, Inmarsat and Lockheed Martin have already joined the project, which will next month encourage organisations from industries including agriculture, aviation, construction, mining, maritime, road, spatial and utilities to participate.