Speech at the opening of the Centre for Brain Research at the Auckland Medical School

Thank you for the opportunity to open the Centre for Brain Research. Congratulations to Professor Richard Faull and Professor Alan Barber, who have led the development of the centre. I alsoacknowledge the researchers, clinicians, community groups and families who are involved; and Chancellor Roger France and Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon for their support of Professor Faull and his vision.

Today I want to talk about three issues. First, the role of excellence and partnerships in research, science and technology; second, the Government's current work around lifting the performance of the sector, and third, the contribution of health research to New Zealand.

Since becoming Minister, I have seen many examples of how co-operation between researchers leads to improved science. The Centres of Research Excellence typify the very best approach. When we encourage excellent scientists to form partnerships and share research strengths, we accelerate scientific progress.

The MacDiarmid Institute, the National Research Centre for Growth and Development and other CoREs have provided New Zealand with a model for improving science output. The Centre for Brain Research continues this model.

The Centre has outstanding international linkages. I am advised that you already co-operate with over 60 overseas teams and institutes. International linkages are vital, not only for distributing New Zealand discoveries, but for enabling New Zealand to remain linked to progress made elsewhere. New Zealand contributes less than 1% of global research effort, but we use that to leverage access to the entire world through international linkages.

This is the very essence of Sir Isaac Newton's most famous quotation: "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."

The community support for the Centre is impressive. The list of support organisations includes all the major brain disease societies of New Zealand. The Centre is also closely linked to Auckland Hospital, its clinicians and patients. This enables the research to better connect with the community. The Government wants impacts from all research to be as immediate as possible, and health research has a great tradition of working with the community to improve quality of life.

Professor Faull has already made some truly excellent discoveries about the brain. He has demonstrated that the brain is capable of repairing itself by making new brain cells. This has led research into how stem cells may be used to repair the brain in future. He was also instrumental in establishing the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank at the University of Auckland. This is a valuable international resource for brain research.

The Government fulfilled a commitment in this year's Budget, by increasing Marsden and Health Research Council funding. We also appointed Sir Peter Gluckman as the Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister. Last month, the Prime Minister launched his Science Prizes.

We are committed to raising the profile of science and using excellent science to inform Government policy. The next challenge will be getting our researchers and institutions working on the vital issues that New Zealand faces.

The priority for 2010 will be economic growth. We are coming out of recession. We have a clear goal of closing the economic gap with Australia.

Part of reaching this goal is to more clearly define what it is that we want from our investment in research, science and technology. We also need to ensure we have the right research institutions, and that they have the correct settings.

The Government has released a feedback document on New Zealand's research, science and technology priorities. We want to strategically re-align Vote RST with a set of priorities.

The Government has also commissioned a taskforce to review CRIs. If our future science investment is to be driven by priorities, then we need to make sure our research institutions are properly configured. The taskforce will help us shape CRIs, so that they can meet the future needs of the economy.

The outcome should be clear priorities, research institutes with clear missions, and a simpler, more strategic funding system. I want to have the priorities and simpler funding system in place by Budget 2010.

Health research remains a key component of the science system. As I mentioned before, we use our investment in health research to connect to the world of health science. But health research also has to meet New Zealand's societal needs.

The benefits of health research need to transfer from the laboratory to clinicians. Developments in health research lead to opportunities to improve therapies and create innovative products.

Health technologies are a growing area of export revenue for New Zealand. Their combination of high-technology and societal benefits make this an industry that we need to encourage and support.

The Centre for Brain Research already supports several start-up companies. Professor Barber's research has led to the development of rehabilitation devices for stroke patients. Over time, I am sure that more economic opportunities will be created by this Centre. Capturing those opportunities will be vital to improving our economic performance.