Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

5.3.2 The HRC’s portfolio-based investment framework
The HRC is the main funder of New Zealand health
research. The HRC’s priorities have traditionally
been driven primarily by investigator-led research
excellence, but it is becoming more targeted in its
investment processes. The HRC instituted a portfoliobased
investment framework 66 in 1999, and many of
its goals can potentially be delivered by biotechnology
research. Biotechnology research is spread across
the HRC’s Biological Systems and Technologies,
Communicable Diseases, and Non-Communicable
Diseases Portfolios.
Although health related biotechnology research in
particular areas may contribute to achieving the
government’s strategic health objectives
(like reductions in the incidence and impact of
cancer and cardiovascular disease), research is not
prioritised on this basis alone. Biomedical research is
a global endeavour and many of the positive health
benefits that New Zealanders will experience from
biotechnology will come from research performed
offshore.
The priorities for the HRC’s biotechnology research
investments, therefore, remain mostly focused on
research excellence. This way, beneficial outcomes
to the health status of New Zealanders, contributions
to global knowledge, and a heightened opportunity
to capture economic benefits are all potentially
addressed.
5.4 Key research providers
With very few large, or even medium sized, private
companies within this sector biotechnology research is
largely carried out by public sector institutions in New
Zealand (see Figure 6).
A very high proportion of the funding comes from
government grants. Private sector R&D expenditure
accounts for only 36% of total expenditure. 67
Figure 6
Biotechnology research providers by
% of government funding
11%
6%
6%
4%
KEY
University
Private Sector
Public-Private
Partnerships
Centres of Research
Excellence
Research
Associations
Crown Research
Institute
27%
46%
BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROVIDERS
BY % OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING
66
Health Research Council (2005), Investment Strategy 2005-06
67
MoRST (2006), Research and Development in New Zealand – A Decade in Review p.90
32 Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research