12 February 2001

Growing An Innovative New Zealand Framework Is On The Right Track

Today’s announcement of the Government’s framework to grow an innovative New Zealand is on the right track according to Rick Christie, Chair of the Science and Innovation Advisory Council (SIAC).

“SIAC’s own research has found that New Zealand can not afford to be complacent. The framework’s promotion of a cross government approach to innovation, partnership with the private sector and investing in the key areas of biotechnology, Information and communications technology, and the creative industries is a positive step forward.”

The Growing an Innovative New Zealand framework picks up on the vision and some of the key goals from SIAC’s second report on innovation presented to the Prime Minister in December 2001.

“To build a more prosperous New Zealand we will need to focus on our strengths, innovate more rapidly and increase our connections with international markets. The framework will give a lot of impetus to make this happen,” Mr Christie said.

Since being established by the Prime Minister in June 2000, SIAC has presented two major reports to the Government. These, “A Proposed Innovation Framework” and “Innovation Report Card” were released at the Knowledge Wave conference in August 2001.

“We are pleased that many of the ideas from SIAC’s research and consultation have been taken up by the Government. It’s also a credit to the more than 85 groups and organisations who shared their ideas with SIAC since we presented our first report at the Knowledge Wave conference in August 2000.

“SIAC’s members look forward to working with the Government to turn the framework into a reality that will benefit New Zealand,” Mr Christie said.

SIAC’s full report is available at http://www.siac.govt.nz

© Scoop Media