Two become one in science shake-up
Tuesday sees the official debut of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the merging of science funding and policy roles into one unit as the Government's revamp of the science system
continues.
The new Ministry is to be launched at Victoria University on Tuesday by the Prime Minister John Key and the Minister for
Science and Innovation, Dr Wayne Mapp. Attendees have been promised the chance to "...get hands-on with an exciting
innovation showcase...featuring world-class biomedical technology, a sneak peak preview of the solar power house design
that won Victoria University students a place at the US Department of Energy 'Solar Decathlon' competition, and the
latest in video gaming technology from Sidhe Interactive".
The name of the new ministry, which replaces the policy-setting Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the
funding agency the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, would appear to indicate the Government's focus on
boosting innovation. Science ministries around the world including in Australia and Britain also feature the word
"innovation" in their names, indicating the importance governments are placing on innovation to stimulate their
economies in a period of global recession.
December saw officials from the OECD in Wellington to discuss just that subject as they presented their Innovation Strategy 2010. Keynote addresses given at the summit, from OECD innovation experts and local coomentators and politicians are
available here.
Following the innovation policy agenda of the Government and the progress of innovative New Zealand companies is
Wellington business writer and blogger Peter Kerr. Check out his blog Stick (which stands for science, technology,
innovation, knowledge, commercialisation) on Sciblogs.
ENDS