Public and private investment in the government's Research Consortia programme has reached a quarter of a billion dollars, according to Research, Science and Technology Minister, Steve Maharey.
The programme was set up in 2002 to improve the competitiveness of New Zealand enterprises by matching private investment in research and development.
"This is a great result which demonstrates the value of collaboration between government and industry on key areas of innovation," Mr Maharey said.
"The programme has been successful both in boosting private sector investment in science, and in increasing collaboration between researchers and investors.
"The emerging research will support innovation across a broad range of industries including forestry, housing, pastoral and sheep genomics, bioactives, pipfruit and seafood."
Mr Maharey said the commitment from industry had been "hugely encouraging" with the government's investment of $125 million up to 2011 consistently matched or exceeded by industry investment across the 10 consortia established to date.
* Research Consortia - Three case studies
Radiata Pine Breeding Company
Many of the consortia have a diverse range of partners. The Radiata Pine Breeding Company (RPBC) Ltd, the latest consortium to be contracted has 17 shareholding companies, ranging from forest owners, seed producers and technology innovation companies, with a strong Australian contribution and participation. The Forest Research/CSIRO joint venture company Ensis is the key research provider, with the School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury also strategically aligned with the consortium.
Dr Mike Carson, acting CEO for RPBC Ltd, says the grouping brings together a diverse range of skills, capabilities and networks that provide critical capability for delivering the consortium's objectives.
RPBC aims to both develop superior varieties of radiata pine and to better predict their future performance, hence improving the economics of tree improvement. The improved varieties will exhibit greater forest health, volume growth and product value.
Economic benefits to the nation and industry resulting from the consortium's research programme are expected to be at least $300M p.a. from 2010, initially from increased growth and timber stiffness, and later from improvements in timber dimensional stability, and appearance.
Seafood Innovations
Seafood Innovations Ltd is a consortium officially launched this year with $1.3M p.a. investment from the Foundation matched by industry. It is 80 per cent owned by SeaFIC (the Seafood Industry Council Ltd) and 20 per cent by Crop & Food Research.
Mark Loeffen, acting CEO, says bringing the seafood companies together with research organisations is immensely beneficial, allowing "both market pull and technology push" to operate. The collaboration allows the resulting research to be focussed on real commercial opportunities for adding value and helps the seafood companies be open to new ideas and technology. "Seafood companies are gaining a greater understanding of what research organisations can do for them and research organisations can better target their research."
With many seafood companies facing quota restrictions, the only way their business can grow is by adding value to the raw material that they are currently able to harvest, which is why the research consortia are important to industry.
Wood Quality Initiative
WQI (Wood Quality Initiative) Ltd was formed in 2002 and Chief Executive Keith Mackie says within the first two years of operation the company has delivered an estimated $10-15M for shareholders by way of new technology and knowledge which shareholders can use in their businesses.
Research has uncovered new and "desperately needed" technology in assessing wood quality. "Although considerable research expertise existed before, I doubt this technology would have been uncovered or brought to this level of development had WQI not been formed."
This consortium has shareholders representing a substantial proportion of the tree growers and processors in New Zealand and has built a very strong relationship between the sector shareholders and with R&D organisations throughout Australasia.
Government says research programme a success
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