12. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology
How is the Government fostering innovation in the New Zealand economy through research, science, and technology?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Research, Science and Technology) Link to this
Over the next 4 years this Government will invest just under $3 billion to foster innovation through research, science, and technology. That investment will ensure greater certainty around funding, support areas of national research excellence, and ensure faster commercialisation of research. That is 50 percent more than the previous Government chose to spend on innovation.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Over the next 4 years the Government will invest an extra $47.8 million into programmes directly aimed at supporting scientists, including $17.8 million to boost the capability of Crown research institutes, $17.1 million to expand the International Investment Opportunities Fund, $10 million to invest in the Marsden Fund, and $2.7 million to double the number of Fulbright scholarships. Under investments by the Labour-led Government the number of people working in research, science, and technology has increased by 32 percent.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
How does the announcement made on 8 November by Industrial Research that it will axe 20 highly qualified scientists correlate with his innovation rhetoric and Labour’s pre-election statement: “We need to provide more security for researchers.”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I repeat, for the benefit of the member—and I thank him for the opportunity—that we have had a 32 percent increase in the number of people working in the sector, and we are investing 50 percent more than National would have invested. But, of course, in the case of Industrial Research Ltd, the difficulties with two of its subsidiary companies have caused it to change what it is doing.
Dr Paul Hutchison Link to this
I seek leave to table two articles. The first, dated 10 November 2005, is from the New Zealand Herald and is entitled “IRL cutback a blow to research”, and the second is an editorial from the of 14 November, entitled “No way to treat a scientist”. That is the record of the Labour Government.
Madam SPEAKER