Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

5.3 What outcomes is the government currently seeking
from its biotechnology research investments
The government is seeking a range of different
outcomes from its biotechnology research investments.
At a high level, these correlate broadly to the
expectations the government holds for the RS&T
system as a whole.
At this level, biotechnology research contributes
directly to achieving the government’s four strategic
goals for research:
• Economic: Biotechnology research contributes
directly to increasing the competitiveness of New
Zealand industries and sectors and generating new
biotechnology firms.
• Environment: Biotechnology research enhances
our understanding and management of our natural
environment.
• Social: Biotechnology research helps to improve
the health status of New Zealanders.
• Knowledge: Biotechnology research creates new
knowledge through research and science activities
with a focus on excellence.
The government’s basic biotechnology research
investments (through the Marsden Fund and
tertiary sector funding instruments like the CoREs)
are focused on research excellence and result
primarily in “knowledge” outcomes. In practice this
translates to researcher training and development,
and contributions to knowledge through research
excellence. It also results in New Zealand being
connected to, and able to translate and benefit from,
advances in the global pool of knowledge.
Much of the government’s biotechnology research is,
however, targeted more explicitly towards achieving
public good economic, environmental and social
outcomes. FRST and the HRC are the funding and
investment agencies which set the most explicitly
targeted outcomes from the research investments they
manage. This has largely come about through portfolio
review processes undertaken by FRST and HRC,
and their responses to various strategic signals from
government and industry.
5.3.1 FRST’s horizons model
FRST uses a “horizons” model to balance their research investments across groupings of their investment portfolios.
The rationale behind this approach is that public good research should span a spectrum, from supporting existing
sectors and environmental management practices, to research aimed at creating new and diversified opportunities
for future economic developments.
The horizons model encompasses four areas:
• Horizon 0 – Sustainability: research aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of New Zealand’s natural
environment and primary industries.
• Horizon 1 – Supporting existing sectors: research aimed at ongoing improvements to productivity and
management approaches in existing economic sectors.
• Horizon 2 – Stretching for change: research aimed at stretching the capabilities of existing sectors so that there
is innovation and greater added value.
• Horizon 3 – Creating new opportunities: research that falls outside, or beyond existing sectors and approaches,
and which is aimed at creating new opportunities for New Zealand’s future. 63
63
FRST (2005), Progress and Achievements Report
30 Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research