Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

Direction 11
Greater focus on collaboration and inter-disciplinary research is required.
Research funding and biotechnology science trends
internationally and within New Zealand show a shift
towards funding interdisciplinary research teams and
research at the convergence of disciplines. Research
occurring at areas of convergence between disciplines
also drives innovations and the most significant “step
changes” in knowledge.
Collaboration between researchers and research
institutions also avoids duplication of effort and
resources and helps build critical mass. It facilitates
greater sharing of infrastructure, building of interdisciplinary
teams, and the development of stronger
links between basic and more applied research.
Establishing effective inter-disciplinary teams requires
a range of factors and takes time. Funding and
investment agencies and research organisations have
roles to play in encouraging such teams to develop in
the first instance, and then supporting them over the
long-term.
Recent reviews and evaluations 85 have suggested
that the RS&T system is not supporting research
convergence as well as it might and greater effort is
required to build and appropriately fund effective
inter-disciplinary teams. One particular area of
emerging opportunity for New Zealand identified by
the Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies Roadmap (see
box below) is greater focus on research at the interface
between bio and nanotechnology.
Roadmap Cross-over – Roadmaps for Science: Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies
The Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies Roadmap signals the need for greater emphasis on building
capabilities in bio-nanotechnologies. Strengthening research capability in New Zealand at the interface
between biotechnology and nanotechnology is desirable because of the importance of primary production to
the economy, the strengths we have in biotechnology and the added benefit nanotechnologies may contribute,
and because of strong national support for good environmental management.
Short term actions:
Research funding and investment agencies and research organisations to continue to prioritise and
effectively support and maintain inter-disciplinary research teams; and
Research funding and investment agencies to take account of the research direction in the Nanoscience
and Nanotechnologies Roadmap which signals the need to strengthen research capability at the interface
between bio and nanotechnologies.
85
The Evaluation of NERF and the Plant Biotechnology Domain Review
Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research
61