Direction to: The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology ("the Foundation").
Under section 8A of the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation to allocate funds in accordance with the Vision Matauranga Capability Fund ("the Scheme") as specified in this notice.
Objective of the Scheme
The objective of the Scheme is to unlock the innovation potential of Maori knowledge, resources and people by developing skilled people and organisations to undertake or otherwise contribute to research that supports the four themes of the Vision Matauranga policy framework:
- Indigenous innovation;
- Taiao - environmental sustainability;
- Hauora/Oranga - improving health and social well being; and
- Matauranga - exploring indigenous knowledge and research, science and technology (RS&T).
The Scheme will support RS&T that is intended to be of benefit to New Zealand.
It is also expected that the Scheme will ensure that international collaboration is supported where this is of benefit to the objectives of Scheme.
Indicators of Success
If successful, the Scheme will contribute to RS&T that will:
- increase and strengthen the community of researchers, stakeholders and users with the ability to unlock the innovation potential of Maori knowledge, resources and people;
- foster effective technology transfer from the science system to stakeholders and users relevant to the themes of Vision Matauranga; and
- develop networks for knowledge transfer, and technology transfer, relevant to the four themes of Vision Matauranga.
The above indicators will be measured by the Foundation at a sector level and will provide some indication of the success of the Scheme through regular evaluations.
Nature of the Scheme
The Scheme supports the four themes of Vision Matauranga, through:
- investing in research that contributes to unlocking the innovation potential of Maori knowledge, resources and people;
- fellowships and other mechanisms which build and develop research communities capable of delivering Vision Matauranga research outcomes;
- ensuring quality engagement between the science system, stakeholders, and users of Vision Matauranga research and other research outcomes, with a focus on knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
Tools for Allocating Funding
RS&T supported under this Scheme must in each case fit one of the following tools1:
- Science-led contestable funding - investing through a contestable process in RS&T and related activities.
- Fellowships - fellowships aimed at developing skilled people to undertake research and/or contribute to the delivery of research outcomes that supports the four themes of the Vision Matauranga policy framework.
Estimated Funding
An estimate of the amount of funds required to be
allocated by the Foundation for the purposes of the Scheme is $3.49 million in 2010/11, excluding GST. Actual funding available will be published each year in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.
Estimated Period of Operation
I estimate that the Scheme will operate for a minimum of three years from 1 July 2010; however I anticipate reviewing this notice by 1 July 2011.
Monitoring Agency
The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology will monitor and review the Scheme.
Performance Measures
Annual performance measures for the Scheme will be published in the annual Estimates of Appropriation. Additional performance measures to measure progress will be specified in the Output Agreement.
Dated this 1st day of June 2010.
HON DR WAYNE MAPP, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.
1A description of each tool is contained in the Supplementary Notice
of Tools for Ministerial Schemes under section 8A of the Foundation
for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990, published in the
New Zealand Gazette on the same date as this notice.