Most significant Budget for S&I in many years

Science New Zealand

Most significant Budget for S&I in many years

Dr Warren Parker, chair of Science New Zealand and CEO of Scion, says today’s budget announcements are the most significant for many years in two ways:

“The increased level of public funding is substantial, and Government has committed to strengthening the connection between the excellent science done in New Zealand and getting it into practical application. This is a two-way connection, and is vital to ensuring we are doing the science that meets current needs and that also challenges and opens up new opportunities for both the public and private sectors.

“Public funding for research, science and innovation is increased across a range of areas – from health to commercialisation to environment, and research in other areas critical to New Zealand present and future wealth and well-being. The importance of international linkages in science is recognised.

“Science-based innovation is at the heart of opportunity for economic and social prosperity, and critical to protecting and enhancing our environmental wealth. It enables higher value, higher paid jobs and creates the wealth we need as a nation, to re-invest into our society for the future.

“The CRIs are deeply engaged with these sectors, and across the value chains. We know that these investments will help create a more innovative, agile country. We are in a global race, and New Zealand’s companies need to be able to compete globally through innovative products and processes.

“The CRIs will be working with our colleagues in the private and public sectors and in universities and other research centres, to maximise the value New Zealand gets from the RS&T investment.

“Strategically-aligned research is our particular strength. We are particularly pleased to see the government getting very serious about the science that supports opportunities in areas such as adding value through manufacturing, climate change, environmental research and application, the innovative primary sectors, and regional economic development.

“Regional development is often highly dependent upon the high value manufacturing and services which arise from the traditional local sectors. CRIs are dispersed across the regions, so we make a substantial contribution as knowledge and transfer centres and we look forward to identifying how additional value cane be released through working with regional research institutes.”

ENDS

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