Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

5.5.7 Research to support the effective development and
management of biotechnology
Following on from the recommendations of the Royal
Commission on Genetic Modification the government
has directed research investments towards the societal
implications and environmental impacts of emerging
biotechnologies.
This research mostly aims at contributing knowledge
to support:
• the ethical and safe regulation of New Zealand
developed and imported biotechnologies;
• the prevention and management of adverse
impacts; and
• the socially and environmentally responsible
development of biotechnologies.
Research strengths
New Zealand researchers are currently building
research strengths in developing models to understand
the impacts of genetically modified crops on
agricultural eco-systems and the social context shaping
attitudes and values towards emerging biotechnologies
within New Zealand.
Current investment levels and trends
Investments in this area currently make up 2% of
the total investment in biotechnology research.
Proportionally, current investments are weighted
towards environmental impacts research (87%) and
investments are distributed across a range of research
providers.
Issues or gaps
End-user feedback suggests that the current
configuration of environmental and social impacts
research has resulted in some fragmentation between
research providers and the need for better connectivity
with the largely government sector users of this
research. This in turn suggests that there is a need for
greater strategic oversight to shape the future direction
of this research investment area.
5.5.8 Research commercialisation – streamlining processes
The long lead time to market with biotechnology
products requires long-term research investments.
An issue which has been identified is the need for
more streamlined research funding processes at both
an intra and inter-research funding and investment
agency level.
The government’s research funding output classes and
schemes span the research spectrum and are managed
by multiple funding and investment agencies. The
vertical nature of these funding pots can inhibit the
progression of the best ideas along the pathway towards
commercialisation.
The recently completed New Economy Research
Fund (NERF) evaluation also pointed out a perceived
gap between the basic-targeted research funded by
NERF and access to follow-on research funding that
bridges the gap to commercialisation.
Furthermore, there is a degree of confusion about
the degree of overlap between NERF and the more
applied Research for Industry (RFI) fund. 78 To add
weight to this observation, as of 2005-06, 40% of NERF
funding is directed towards applied or experimental
research and 32% of RFI is directed towards basic
research.
There is scope here for further RS&T system policy
work to investigate options for tackling these issues.
There is also scope for future improvements both
between, and within, research funding agencies to
streamline the progression of the best research towards
commercial application coupled with the appropriate
review mechanisms to filter quality. One particular
area identified is the need to investigate whether
health biotechnology research funding processes are
appropriately aligned between the HRC and FRST.
78
ABT Associates (September 2005), op-cit, p.67-68
48 Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research