Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

6 Directions for
Biotechnology Research
Section summary
Previous sections identified the international and national biotechnology research landscapes and New
Zealand’s strategic economic and social goals. Drawing on this material this section presents the government’s
perspective on the preferred future directions for biotechnology research in New Zealand.
This section:
• affirms some existing directions and trends; and
• highlights areas where changes, improvements or greater future emphasis will be need to be made.
6.1 High level objectives
Biotechnology research is of critical importance to
New Zealand, with a central role to play in achieving
the government’s economic transformation goals.
Transforming New Zealand’s economy will come
about by both building new strengths based on
our primary sector, and by developing new areas
of competitive advantage that capitalise on global
demands. Government funded research must continue
to maintain New Zealand’s existing competitive
advantages while also helping establish new areas
by investing in opportunities arising from “scienceled”
research which have the potential to build
completely new industries. Research is the life-blood
of New Zealand’s biotechnology industry and ensures
that there is a supply of innovations to drive new
biotechnology enterprise creation.
New Zealand’s natural environment faces increasing
challenges including adjusting to climate change,
a biosecurity management system under increasing
pressure from the globalisation of trade and travel, and
balancing the need to increase on-farm productivity
and lower environmental impact. Biotechnology
research has a growing role to play to help find
solutions to these challenges, as well as open up new
opportunities based on our natural resources.
Research has an equally important role to play
in ensuring the responsible development and
management of biotechnologies in New Zealand.
Research knowledge underpins high quality decision
making and informed debate about the environmental
and societal implications associated with new
biotechnologies.
The global nature of biotechnology research has
important implications for New Zealand. Given
that the vast majority of biotechnology research
and applications are, and will always be, developed
off-shore, New Zealand must maintain research that
allows it to remain connected to the global network of
biotechnology RS&T. This ensures a continuing ability
to scan, adopt and adapt this pool of global knowledge
for New Zealand needs. This is important for a
number of areas including the healthcare system, the
development of critical science services (like forensics),
and the adaptation of offshore research developments
for New Zealand’s unique primary sector conditions.
With limited resources, it is also important for New
Zealand to focus partnership efforts on targeted
countries and regions.
Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research
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