New Ministry Will Get Science Out From under the Microscope And into the Market Place
1st Feb 2011
Today’s launch of the new Ministry of Science and Innovation is a key step towards improving the environment for New
Zealand’s bio-based industries.
“Our industries need a more simplified funding mechanism in order to speed up the process of getting science out of the
laboratory and into the commercial world, says NZBIO Chair, Maxine Simmons.
“We see the amalgamation of Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, and the Foundation, for Research, Science and
Technology into one Ministry as an indication that the Government is taking the importance of focusing on science and
innovation as a key tool for driving New Zealand’s future economic growth seriously,” says Maxine Simmons.
“NZ is a nation of innovators, but the key to success is not just developing something, like a new drug to assist
diabetes or a new biofuel, companies need help getting these ideas out into the local and global market place. This will
improve our economic growth and standard of living. Currently many of our bioscience companies struggle with this step.
The amalgamation into one Ministry means there will one place that companies can go to for support and funding which
should remove any of the current confusion and speed up the innovation pipeline.”
ENDS