Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced an additional $74.6 million in funding through the Innovative New Zealand programme in Budget 2017 to meet the growing demand for Callaghan Innovation’s research and development (R&D) Growth Grants.

“Encouraging business R&D helps high-tech, innovative Kiwi companies to bring products and ideas to the market sooner, which has significant benefit for export revenues,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith today launched a new edition of an investment guide into New Zealand’s fast growing technology sector.

The Investor Guide to the New Zealand Technology Sector showcases the breadth and variety of technology companies in New Zealand.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Louise Upston have welcomed the latest apprenticeship figures, which show an increase of 6800, nearly 19 per cent, since 2012.

“We now have over 43,000 New Zealanders engaged in an apprenticeship, with most of those in the construction and engineering sectors,” says Mr Goldsmith.

The latest Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) shows the economy continues to deliver for New Zealanders says Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“The unemployment rate is again at 4.9 per cent in the March 2017 quarter,” says Mr Goldsmith.

“We have 29,000 more Kiwis employed in the past three months as job growth continues to be faster than population growth.”

Record labour force participation continues with the rate increasing again to 70.6 per cent.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced 13 appointments and reappointments to the governing councils of nine tertiary education institutions (TEIs).

“I welcome the essential skills and experience that these appointees will bring to the leadership of their institutions” says Mr Goldsmith.

“I want to recognise and thank the outgoing members for the valuable service, commitment, and contribution they have made to tertiary education in New Zealand.”

Regulatory Reform Minister, Paul Goldsmith, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regulatory Reform, David Seymour, say changes to Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) requirements will lead to better informed decision making by Parliament and the Government.

“Our laws and regulations have a profound effect on our economic performance, the operation of business, and the well-being of every New Zealander,” says Mr Seymour.

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today released a new report which details a number of measures to ensure that the Marsden Fund, the Government’s premier fund for excellent investigator-led research, continues to be effective and fit-for-purpose.

“The Marsden Fund supports fundamental, investigator-led research and aims to raise the standard of research in New Zealand by attracting and retaining high-quality scientists,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed 11 ground-breaking projects that have won $1.65 million in explorer grants from the Health Research Council (HRC).

“The Government supports research that leads to improved health outcomes and more effective delivery of healthcare for New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith will reveal the details of a significant challenge prize for the wearable technology sector at a launch event in Auckland this evening.

C-Prize, run by the Government’s business innovation agency Callaghan Innovation, will be open to anyone living in New Zealand aged 16 and over.

Mr Goldsmith says it is an example of incentives being used to spur inquisitive minds to create concepts with strong commercial potential.

Revenue Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith say they are encouraged to see a marked increase in overseas student loan defaulters contacting Inland Revenue and taking steps to pay off their loans.

Since December 2014 there has been a 66% increase in the number of overseas borrowers who are behind on their payments getting in touch with Inland Revenue.

The release of new data showing a significant jump in the amount spent by Kiwi companies on research and development (R&D) is a sign of the confidence businesses have in themselves and the New Zealand economy, says Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“This is an important survey as it is the first to fully capture the impact of the work the Government is doing through Callaghan Innovation and the R&D Grants programme to support lifting business spending on R&D,” says Minister Goldsmith.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed $2 million in feasibility study grants announced today by the Health Research Council (HRC).

“The Government supports research that leads to improved health outcomes and more effective delivery of healthcare for New Zealanders,” says Dr Coleman.

“This year’s funding for feasibility grants is nearly double last year’s, supporting a total of nine studies spanning a range of subject areas.”

Science researchers on both sides of the Tasman are benefitting from the Australian Synchrotron facility, visited today by Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“As foundation investors in the Australian Synchrotron, we have given New Zealand researchers access to a sophisticated facility which can assist in the development of everything from forensics, to surgical tools, through to understanding environmental issues,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Australia   to advance science and innovation collaboration between New Zealand and Australia.

“It’s great to see that our already extensive collaboration with Australia now has a clear work programme in the form of the recently signed the Australia-New Zealand Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the signing of a bilateral cooperation arrangement in biomedical research between New Zealand and China.

The arrangement between the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) and China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) was signed by HRC Chair Dr Lester Levy and NSFC Vice President Dr Liu Congqiang today.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Hon Paul Goldsmith has today announced the opening of the New Zealand China Sister Schools Fund for 2017.

Today’s announcement comes as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits New Zealand, and an updated bilateral arrangement on cooperation in education and training is signed – one of the aims of which is to foster cooperation between the schools in both countries.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith says new internationally-recognised research that aims to improve rehabilitation of people after they have a stroke is an important step forward.

“Around 9,000 people have a stroke each year in New Zealand. Early identification and treatment is crucial to reduce the likelihood of brain damage and lasting harm,” says Dr Coleman.

A major investment announced by Huawei today will support our efforts to build an innovative, world leading economy, Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith say.

Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Huawei, has announced it will commit up to $400 million over five years to research and development and digital innovation in New Zealand.

Highlights of the investment include:

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced the winners of New Zealand’s most valuable and prestigious annual science awards, the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes.

“The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes celebrate scientific achievement, highlight the impact science has on New Zealanders’ lives, and aim to attract more young people into science careers,” Mr Goldsmith says.

Finance Minister Steven Joyce, and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s report New models of tertiary education.

“We would like to acknowledge the Commission’s time and effort in considering this issue, and the wide engagement of the tertiary sector in the inquiry,” Mr Joyce says.

An underwater robot and a portable winemaking system are just some of the innovations being advanced at the New Zealand Product Accelerator programme, visited today by Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“Science-led innovation plays an important role in lifting the living standards of New Zealanders, by lifting our productivity and strengthening our businesses,” says Mr Goldsmith.

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith is welcoming the release of new research on canine nutrition which is set to boost New Zealand’s premium petfood exporters.

The New Zealand study explored how a high meat diet affects microbes in the guts of dogs. It found that a high meat diet is the optimum choice for the wellbeing of man’s best friend, as it is easier to digest and more nutrients are absorbed.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Hon Paul Goldsmith has today announced seven reappointments to the governing councils of six institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs).

“I welcome the reappointment of these council members. They are high-calibre appointees, and include three council Chairs and one Deputy Chair” says Mr Goldsmith.

“I thank them for their commitment and continued contribution to the leadership of their institutions.”

The reappointed council members are: