The Government may look at the possibility of merging some Crown Research Institutes.
There are eight government-owned CRIs, each working in a different area of science.
In 2010, a taskforce recommended no change to the number of institutes.
However, the Minister for Research, Science and Technology Wayne Mapp says the CRIs have identified areas where there are overlaps.
Dr Mapp says discussions are being held about whether a new process should be embarked upon to look at whether there should be mergers.
