OPENING OF CANTERBURY SCIENTIFIC LTD'S NEW FACILITIES

 I want to start by acknowledging the immense amount of hard work that has gone into opening this new facility. 

Congratulations and well done to the staff and board of Canterbury Scientific.

The Government is committed to science and innovation, and that commitment has seen us embark on a significant programme of change. 

Today I want to take the opportunity to talk with you about those changes.  I would also like to talk about what those changes will mean for a small, innovative company like Canterbury Scientific.

Aspirations for the science and innovation sector

Our vision is simple.  It is that science and innovation are at the heart of our economy.

They will be the means by which we grow and develop the economic and social future of New Zealand.

As a country we can build more wealth, more jobs, more export-led growth, and more social and environmental benefits, through being smart and innovative.

In tough economic times, a commitment to R&D is important.  Evidence shows that countries and companies who invest in innovation prosper in the long term.

Backing R&D will allow us to get more value out of our crucial primary sector and will grow the clever, high-tech companies we need to diversify and grow our economy.

Similar-sized economies such as Queensland, Denmark, Finland and Singapore have done it, and so can New Zealand. 

New Zealand can be a "Smart Nation" through an increased focus on science and innovation, and by ensuring the systems, processes and structures in the science and innovation system are simple and efficient.

The Government is taking steps to improve New Zealand’s science and innovation system, empower the people working within it, obtain better value from public investment, and direct Government support where it can make the most difference.

Changes to the science system

The past 12 months have seen the most important changes to the New Zealand science system in the past 20 years.

In Budget 2009, we recognised the role of fundamental science in creating new ideas and training new talent.  

Budget 2009 saw increases to the Marsden Fund, the Health Research Council and the CRI Capability Fund.

We also initiated the CRI reforms, simplified the science funding system and established overall science priorities. 

The Government also chose to lift the profile of science. To do this we introduced the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes and appointed Professor Sir Peter Gluckman as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

Sir Peter has been an effective conduit between the public, Government and the science sector.  He regularly appears in the media and has helped to lift the profile of science in the public’s eye.

In Budget 2010, the emphasis was on business innovation.  We saw the need to strengthen companies by stimulating private sector investment in R&D. 

This includes making Government support for business R&D more effective and easier to access.

Technology Development Grant   

Budget 2010 included the new Technology Development Grant, aimed at research-intensive firms. 

It reimburses 20% of eligible expenditure on a businesses R&D programme, up to $2.4 million a year. The Government will be granting $190 million to R&D-intensive businesses over the next four years.

Technology Transfer Vouchers

Technology Transfer Vouchers also came out of Budget 2010.  This assistance is aimed at smaller businesses with limited or no in-house R&D capability. 

Technology Transfer Vouchers provide businesses with co-funding to access R&D services and expertise from accredited research organisations.

National Network of Commercialisation Centres

We also set aside $11m in funding for a new National Network of Commercialisation Centres, which will bring together research organisations and smart investors to better turn the results of New Zealand research into commercial products. 

There will be an announcement providing more information about the commercialisation centres soon.

Investment in R&D

In light of the overall economic and fiscal situation, the Government’s significant new investment in R&D through Budget 2009 and Budget 2010 shows just how much importance we are placing on science and innovation.

MSI

The establishment of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) is also a key reform.  The new Ministry has been up and running since 1 February. 

Bringing MoRST and FoRST together into the new Ministry will lead to a more efficient and simpler funding system. 

The merger will improve the connection between Government priorities, and science and innovation funding. 

Creating one Ministry, which is the focal point of innovation policy, sends a signal to New Zealand that this is important to our plans for the future.

One of the key roles of MSI will be increasing the links between the various organisations involved in science and innovation.  

Through initiatives such as the Technology Transfer Vouchers and the National Network of Commercialisation Centres, the Government is working to bring research and business closer together. 

MSI will be continuing this, and will be also looking to work across the Government and with other organisations to harness everyone into the drive to grow the economy through innovation.

Canterbury Scientific is a fine example of the success that can result when you marry quality R&D and business savvy.

The new Science and Innovation Boards

In January, the Government announced the membership of two important new boards related to MSI. 

The Science Board will allocate science funding to research organisations, while the Innovation Board will make decisions about funding related to business.

The Chair of the Innovation Board is Cantabrian Dr William Rolleston. 

As many of you will know, Dr Rolleston is highly regarded for his extensive experience across the R&D sector.  He is a founding shareholder and director of South Pacific Sera, which produces animal blood products for the biotechnology sector.

South Pacific Sera shares similarities with Canterbury Scientific.  Both are small, highly innovative businesses producing blood-related products to meet international demand. 

It is quite impressive to have two such companies in the region, and indicates the strong culture of business innovation in Canterbury, fom YikeBike to Tait Electronics.

Conclusion

The changes we are making to the science system are simplifying it and increasing support for innovative businesses. 

It is also providing stronger direction about the Government’s priorities for science and innovation.  This should make things easier for researchers and for innovative businesses, like Canterbury Scientific.

These changes will enable more success in applying fundamental science to industry, and ultimately, to our economic growth.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak and I wish you all the very best in these new facilities.