Continued Change amongst the Positive News for Science
The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) says there is good news for science in the 2016, but also lot of uncertainty.
The 2016 Budget is good news for Investigator-led (Marsden Fund) and Health research where additional support adds to
well-evolved funding processes.
Elsewhere, it looks like there will be continuing change for the NZ science system.
The Marsden Fund, which supports investigator-led research will be increased and should see success rates exceed 10% in
the next couple of years. NZAS President Craig Stevens says “this is a positive signal for New Zealand’s fundamental
research community, but we see a need to get closer to 15-20% success rates to really provide an engine for the nation”.
This increase, combined with the boost to health research already signaled, will efficiently increase research
productivity in these areas.
Elsewhere the budget shows how the government is implementing its National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI). The
Innovative New Zealand initiative looks to restructure a number of aspects of how science in New Zealand is funded
including contestable funding and support for large, nationally significant components of the research sector.
Stevens says “we hope that the Innovative NZ initiative sticks with the NSSI itself and supports impact in the
environment and society sectors, and not just research with direct immediate economic return. Science is often about the
long-game.”
The Endeavour Fund repackages the MBIE contestable fund with some additional support, although the additional funds
appear to be compensating for an earlier redirection of funding to the National Science Challenges. Stevens says “we are
relieved the Government has seen that the MBIE process needs to be improved, as we have real concerns about this funding
model in terms of efficiency and process.”
Stevens says “We hope these changes put scientists in the centre of decisionmaking”.
For example, The Catalyst Fund seeking to strengthen international collaborations is proving to be a complex, highly
prescribed process. On the whole I think New Zealand scientists are really good at building international links and you
have to wonder if the laudable NSSI goals in this area might be achieved simply by better supporting scientists and let
them naturally build these collaborations.”
Of concern is the budget signal of uncertainty for CRI science and scientists, as what was known as Core Funding evolves
into the Strategic Science Investment Fund.
Stevens says “It is positive that the government sees that key elements within the New Zealand science system need to be
handled in particular ways. We’ll need to wait and see how the Strategic Science Investment Fund is rolled out before we
fully understand the impact.”
ENDS