NZ research funding reallocated towards advanced technologies

New Zealand will reallocate funding for agricultural and environmental research into the development of advanced technologies, science minister Shane Reti has announced.

The shift to “smarter investment” will also steer funding towards research in “primary industries and the bioeconomy”, “environmental sustainability and resilience” and “healthy people and a thriving society” – the other three priority “pillars” highlighted in a report from the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council.

Reti said the plans were part of “the most significant reset of our science, innovation and technology system in more than 30 years”. Funding changes would be “phased and carefully managed” over three years to minimise disruption and “maintain continuity for researchers”.

Flagging more details in the forthcoming 28 May budget, he said an extra NZ$122 million (£53 million) a year would go to advanced technologies research, with about half of that sum already reallocated. The changes were necessary to achieve the economic successes of similarly sized nations like Denmark, he said.

“New Zealand underinvests in advanced technology research and is overweighted in agricultural and environmental research compared to similar economies,” he told a 1 April conference, according to his published speech. “We need smarter, more resilient technologies in energy, transport and food production.

“This does not mean starting again or discarding what we do well. Rather, it is to build on our existing strengths and direct more investment toward areas where New Zealand has a genuine comparative advantage…and where emerging technologies are shaping future opportunities.”

Reti described the plan as a “reprioritisation” rather than reduction in science funding, but warned that the government would require a strong “business case” to justify any additional investment. The reforms would help give it the confidence to consider doing that, he said.

The New Zealand Association of Scientists said the reforms would lead to job cuts and “irreversible” loss of expertise. “We cannot…embrace what has become the internationally accepted approach of picking the clusters of missions we know will build on our strengths, while deprioritising the areas that matter most to our economy,” said co-president Troy Baisden.

Fellow co-president Lucy Stewart said that after several consecutive years of cuts, Wellington now appeared intent on robbing Peter to pay Paul. “If the government wants to invest in technology it should do so, [but not] underfund other research areas to an even greater degree.”

Reti said the focus on advanced technologies – including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, synthetic biology, advanced manufacturing and “next generation” sensing – would have spillover benefits in the “agrifood economy” through AI-enabled automation and precision livestock management.

He said this was already happening, citing solar-powered “smart collars” developed by New Zealand agtech company Halter. They enable farmers to guide livestock movements through a smartphone app, eliminating the need for fences.

Reti also announced that 60 per cent of funding allocated through his science portfolio would be “mission-led”, up from about 45 per cent at present, leaving 40 per cent to competitively funded “curiosity-driven” research. “This…positions New Zealand alongside other leading small, advanced economies who are similarly positioning towards more mission-led science.”

He also foreshadowed “simplified” science funding with “less bureaucracy”. In proposals echoing recommendations from Australia’s Strategic Examination of R&D, a “science investment plan” released later this year will outline a strategy for funnelling research funding into the four priority areas. The recently established agency, Research Funding New Zealand, will harness “pillar investment plans” to give effect to the strategy.

The changes mark a swansong for Reti, who will leave cabinet – alongside previous science minister Judith Collins – after Easter. Both have announced plans to retire from parliament as New Zealand gears up for a general election in November.

Vocational education minister Penny Simmonds will replace Reti in cabinet, assuming responsibility for tertiary education and science, innovation and technology.

The cabinet reshuffle coincides with leadership changes at four of New Zealand’s eight universities. Dawn Freshwater, who steps down as vice-chancellor of the University of Auckland on 10 April, will be replaced in early August by serving Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) boss Nic Smith, who leaves his current post in mid-June.

The University of Canterbury has joined VUW in seeking a new vice-chancellor after Cheryl de la Rey announced her intention to step down at the end of the year. Meanwhile, South African-born microbiologist Pierre Venter took the helm at Massey University in February, after long-serving vice-chancellor January Thomas left the previous month.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com