Lincoln to work with AgResearch

New Zealand's biggest science company and its smallest university will join forces to try to secure a slice of $190 million in farming research money, despite abandoning plans to merge fully.

Lincoln University and Crown Research Institute AgResearch said this week they favoured an as yet unformed partnership instead of a full merger.

Tom Lambie, chancellor of Lincoln University, near Christchurch, said it would have taken too long to get the Government approval and possible law changes needed to merge the two entities.

It was better to take advantage of funding opportunities that were available now, he said.

"The Budget committed money to the primary growth strategy and we need to focus on getting the best out of that."

A new primary growth partnership was given $190 million over the next four years, and the Government expects matching contributions from industry.

Mr Lambie said senior managers from Lincoln and AgResearch would meet in the next month to agree on a partnership.

Where possible, the two bodies would place joint bids for research funding.