Let's make IRL an engine for private sector R&D expertise creation says IPENZ
By Peter Kerr for sticK
(sticK - 14 Feb. 2011 ) Industrial Research Ltd. should be changed to an innovation development agency reckons IPENZ.
The proposal is part of the recently released Institution of Professional Engineers of NZ's 'Catalysing economic growth - boosting innovation expertise in the private sector' document.
IPENZ says there are missing elements in our country's policy framework. We need to boost our private sector expertise to develop, adapt and adopt new technologies (innovation expertise), and to develop industries that are less likely to migrate offshore and are thus more 'sticky'.
IRL should receive part of a (to be established) innovation expertise fund as part of its core funding, and as well as delivering important R&D, it should become more focused on innovation expertise development the document says.
Under such a scheme, IRL's key performance indicators would be the extent of industry co-investment and the personnel transferred to the private sector.
For sticK – science, technology, innovation & commercialisation KNOWLEDGE - is a new Wellington based news service concentrating on following the money from ideas to income. Contact editor Peter Kerr at peter.kerr055 @ gmail.com