A report has recommended the Government change the way it funds Crown Research Institutes (CRI) so they can do more research which is in the national interest.
The proposal is contained in a report released on Thursday of the Crown Research Institute Taskforce, set up by the Government last October to review the role of the CRIs.
At present, institutes have to compete for funding, which the taskforce says creates uncertainty and makes them vulnerable as businesses.
The taskforce says the current ownership structure of CRIs places more emphasis on their own business performance, rather than on doing research which contributes to the wellbeing of New Zealand.
It says the Government must be more explicit about what it wants each CRI to achieve and then allocate a significant proportion of their funding directly, on a long-term basis, to support their core activities.
AgResearch chairman Sam Robinson says the cost of bidding for funding has been very high, and the recommendations would give longer term funding. The institute will still need to be accountable and will have to get closer to the pastoral sector, he says.
Research, Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp agrees the issue of multiple objectives needs to be addressed. "We don't own CRIs as a nation to make money, we own them to do good science for the benefit of the economy and society as a whole."
New Zealand Association of Scientists president James Renwick says the taskforce was thorough and its recommendations are better than expected.
The Prime Minister's science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, also applauded the report, saying it is a sound document which has highlighted the correct issues with the management of CRIs.
Report doesn't go far enough - Labour
The Labour Party believes the taskforce report is good but does not go far enough and should have come up with ways to turn public research into commercial ideas.
The taskforce, chaired by businessman Neville Jordan, says the model of competitive bidding for research contracts has gone too far and left CRIs uncertain about their futures.
Labour science spokesperson David Shearer agrees, but says the report does not provide detailed recommendations about how to turn the CRI research into commercial products or services.
Mr Shearer says it should also have made more specific recommendations about how CRIs could link more closely with businesses.
