Budget Statement
The Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
highlights the importance of investing in science to boost
Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic advantage. IRANZ strongly
endorses this. Budget 2023 positions the New Zealand economy
for a low-emissions, high-wage future with a major
investment into our science, digital, and horticultural
technology sectors. It includes provision
for
- Three new multi-institution hubs to increase
collaboration in research and science; - Major
investment in science and scientists;
and - Fellowships and funding to develop more than 260
future science leaders.
IRANZ
Comment
IRANZ commends this investment in the Future
Growth of Research Science and Innovation in the
budget.
In particular, we support the new Science and
Innovation hubs. When they are established, we expect them
to include investment in Māori research infrastructure and
support Mātauranga-led research.
The Wellington-based
hub focused on health and pandemic readiness already
involves IRANZ member the Malaghan Institute, in addition
the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute and the Medical
Research Institute of New Zealand are also centrally located
in the Newtown – Te Aro – Kelburn Health Research
Corridor.
Independent Research Organisations involved
in Environmental and Infrastructure such as Cawthron, BRANZ,
Te Tira Whakamātaki, WSP Research and Innovation, and
Mackie Research look forward to participating in the Climate
Change and Disaster Resilience Centre.
Aotearoa New
Zealand needs to offer more secure job prospects for Early
Career Researchers to allow them to develop the skills and
knowledge needed to advance this country. Budget 2023
supports new talent through a $55.2 million investment in
research fellowships and to train more PhD students. This is
welcomed by IRANZ members, many of whom are currently
supporting PhDs both in-house and in
universities.
IROs have a number of initiatives to
support Early Career Researchers, for example, the Cawthron
Institute offers scholarships to tertiary students,
providing them with an opportunity to contribute to an
active scientific research project and be mentored by top
Cawthron scientists. One of Motu Research’s founding
motivations is building capacity in economic research in
Aotearoa. Motu offers permanent Research Analyst positions
to post graduate students. Motu also offer internships and
scholarships for early career researchers, post graduate
students, and students of Māori descent. BRANZ, WSP, and
HERA have scholarships programmes for infrastructure
research.
Maita Research supports Post Doctoral
Fellows, PhDs, Masters, Honours and Medical Students, they
also offer undergrad and intern scholarships. They
prioritise candidates from Tairāwhiti. Our other members in
the health sector also support Post Doctoral Fellows PhDs
and other students. Takarangi Research Group supports five
current PhD students, all of whom are researching alongside
mātauranga specialists (tōhunga) within marae communities
across Aotearoa. Bragato Research Institute supports four
PhD scholarships to build capability in the wine
industry.
The Government aims for Research, Science,
Innovation and Technology have already been set out in the
White Paper Te Ara Paerangi (TAP).
Te Ara Paerangi
incorporates minimal explicit recognition of Independent
Research Organisations (IROs) and the role they play in
Aotearoa’s Research, Science, Technology, and Innovation
(RST&I) ecosystem.
The IRO diversity of
organisational structures, governance arrangements, research
foci, and access to funding e.g., philanthropy, community,
and industry, enhances the current and future role of the
RST&I system.
The current focus of the White Paper
on Crown Owned Entities (CRIs and Callaghan Innovation) will
constrain the contribution of IROs to the government’s
vision of Te Ara Paerangi.
Aotearoa needs the
Government to recognise that Te Ara Paerangi planning and
thinking needs to be about the entire RSI system, including
IROs. This should be clear in developing Phase 2 and 3
initiatives to enable ‘best-fit’ research organisations
to assist the government to achieve its aims and
objectives.
Background on IRANZ
Independent
Research Associations of New Zealand –
IRANZ
- IRANZ is the peak body for Independent
Research Organisations (IROs) - IRANZ members are IROs
carrying out research, science, technology, or related
activities at all horizon levels with ownership and
governance independent of Government. - IRANZ members
are not CRIs or universities, - IRANZ members have a
variety of ownership structures including public, community,
industry, philanthropic and private, and have been set up to
address specific challenges in targeted areas of the
economy, society, and/or environment. - 26 IRANZ
Members - Employ over 1000 staff.
- Located
throughout Aotearoa from Auckland to
Invercargill - Include four Māori research
organisations. - Promote a range of holiday jobs,
internships, and scholarships. - Are committed to
providing secure careers for their
researchers.
IRANZ Members – Primary
Processing, Food Safety, and the Environment –
Ahuwhenua
- Aqualinc Research Limited
(Christchurch) - Bragato Research Institute
(Blenheim) - Cawthron Institute
(Nelson) - International Global Change Institute
(IGCI) - Land & Water Science Ltd
(Invercargill) - LASRA – The New Zealand Leather &
Shoe Research Association (Palmerston North) - Lincoln
Agritech Ltd (Christchurch) - Te Tira Whakamātaki
(Rangiora) - Verum Group (Christchurch)
- Xerra
Earth Observation Institute (Alexandra)
IRANZ
Members – Infrastructure and the Economy – Kete
Aronui
- BRANZ – Building Research Association of
New Zealand (Wellington) - Dragonfly Data Science
(Wellington) - HERA – Heavy Engineering Research
Association (Auckland) - Mackie Research
(Auckland) - Motu Economic and Public Policy Research
(Wellington) - ME Research (Auckland)
- New
Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials
Research - Scarlatti – Evaluation Analytics and
Insights (Auckland) - WSP Research and Innovation
Centre (Wellington)
IRANZ Members – Health,
Medicine and Society – Hauora me te
rongoā
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute
(Wellington) - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
(Wellington) - Mātai Medical Research Institute
(Gisborne) - MRINZ – Medical Research Institute of New
Zealand (Wellington) - New Zealand Brain Research
Institute (Christchurch) - Taiuru & Associates Ltd
(Christchurch) - Takarangi Research Group
(Dunedin)
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