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 Science Collections and Infrastructure Scheme ("the Scheme") as specified in this notice.
Objective of the Scheme
The objective of the Scheme is the maintenance and retention of databases, collections and significant research infrastructure.
The Scheme will support research, science and technology (RS&T) that is intended to be of benefit to New Zealand.
Indicators of Success
If successful, the Scheme will support nationally important RS&T by:
- ensuring the provision of nationally significant databases, collections and assets, including maintaining the viability and longevity of samples and the maintenance and development of assets and associated activities, for example adding new samples and data, and upgrading facilities.
- increasing the use of databases and collections by fostering co-ordination of software tools, protocols, metadata standards, and "soft" infrastructure such as catalogues that enable and regulate information movement and processing.
- ensuring that research vessels are well maintained and available to researchers when required.
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 will achieve its objectives by supporting RS&T in the following two areas:
- Nationally Significant Databases and Collections; and
- Research vessels.
Tools for Allocating Funding
RS&T supported under this Scheme must in each case fit the following tool1:
- Long-term non-contestable funding - using
non-contestable processes to invest in RS&T and
related activities.
Estimated Funding
An estimate of the amount of funds required to be
allocated by the Foundation for the purposes of the Scheme is $22.38 million in 2010/11, excluding GST. Actual funding available will be published each year in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.
Estimated Period of Operation
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.