![]() ![]() There's plenty of international research which shows R&D is good for the economy of a country and the wellbeing of its citizens. “This is simply not enough,” the MacDiarmid Institute's Nicola Gaston says, particularly if we want to move the dial on a critical measure in the research, science and innovation world: total investment in research and development as a proportion of gross domestic product, or GDP. Professor Nicola Gaston, MacDiarmid Institute "I remain unclear as to exactly to what extent this Budget has moved the dial." Existing facilities, some of which are sorely in need of an upgrade, will get it, and there will be new buildings and equipment.īut the Budget contains much less direct investment into research operations – maybe $140 million, of which $80 million could simply be money redirected from the National Science Challenges, which finish in June next year. Hopefully that will be the case, but still, for researchers there’s the fact that the biggest sum in the Budget – $400 million – will be spent on physical assets, not people. Research, Science and Innovation Minister Ayesha Verrall says they will “bring scientists closer together to increase collaboration, ensure better use of expensive equipment and facilities, and position New Zealand to meet complex challenges and seize economic opportunities.” How about the three new multi-institution research hubs set up to tackle climate change and disaster resilience, health and pandemic readiness, and technology and innovation? Again this is welcome, but there needs to be a similar increase in research funding to allow these newly trained researchers to continue with their careers.” "There are also specific increases in funding for PhD and research fellowships, which will improve the pathway for emerging researchers. Dedicated fellowships and awards for Māori and Pacific people are welcome, says Professor Travis Glare, director of the research management office at Lincoln University, as are boosts to provision of Mātauranga Māori in the tertiary sector, and applied postdoctoral fellowships. “ must be viewed in the context of an ongoing lack of additional investment in the key research funding streams that are so important to Otago, and our researchers.” On the other hand, as University of Otago acting vice chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson points out, this is the sixth year of no funding boost for the Performance Based Research Fund, a more relevant measure of support for science and research in the universities. The money won’t go directly into science and research, but should provide some security for staff, including researchers, Gaston says. If the aim is to help stem redundancies which “are continuing to wreak havoc across our university sector in particular”, as MacDiarmid Institute co-director Professor Nicola Gaston puts it, the 5 percent tuition funding boost is a “massive relief”. * Childcare boost to ease burden, but not yetĪnd there’s a 5 percent increase in funding for tertiary tuition from 2024, a little ahead of forecast inflation for next year and “the biggest increase in at least 20 years”, according to Education Minister Jan Tinetti. * ECE expansion, prescription changes in 'pragmatic plan * Budget 2023: Climate fund slashed by $800 million There’s $37.6 million for New Zealand researchers to work on global challenges like climate change and health alongside the Horizon Europe Initiative – the EU’s €95.5 billion funding programme for research and innovation. There is $55.3 million for research fellowships and an applied doctoral training scheme, which the Government hopes will fund more than 260 researchers and PhD students. ![]() There is $400 million to build three “multi-institution research, science and innovation collaboration centres” in and around Wellington, and $51 million to run them over the next four years. The science-related Budget numbers have plenty of noughts. ![]() The Government is committed to a target of getting investment to 2 percent of GDP as a way to 'help build a high-skill, knowledge-based and more productive economy'. Budget Budget 2023 won’t move dial on R&D ‘hole’ ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |