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Research contract income growing

An indicator of the overall relevance, quality and reputation of research in the tertiary sector is the amount of funding from research contracts. The total funding for university research contracts has continued to increase, with funding totalling $276 million in 2004, an increase of 15 percent on 2002.

The indicator below looks at research contract income by source. It shows that the main growth in contract income for universities has come from contracts other than those funded out of Centres for Research Excellence and the government’s contestable research funds. This trend demonstrates that universities are producing research of recognised quality, which stands the test of competitive bidding and is relevant to a range of private and public funders.

University research contract income by source 2000–2003

Source: Tertiary Education Commission, annual reports of universities, Royal Society of NZ, Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and Health Research Council

Step increase in spin-out companies resulting from university R&D

Research commissioned by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology¹ found that there has been a step change in the rate of spin-out company formation by universities, as well as Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), since 2000. A total of 29 university spin-out companies were formed in the period 2001 to 2005, compared with 10 in the period 1995 to 2000. These companies have been set up to realise the commercial benefits from research and development (R&D) projects. The report identifies a range of funding and policy shifts that has created a more favourable environment for commercialisation of R&D since 2000.

Building the research infrastructure

The government is supporting the development of a super-high-speed internet link between universities and research organisations in New Zealand and overseas. The link, which will be known as the Advanced Network for Research and Education, will enable much greater collaboration between researchers and the multiplication of computing power through the linking of computers across New Zealand and around the world. It will support participation in cutting edge research, development and education in areas such as biotechnology, eLearning, health and creative media, including film.

A consortium of seven New Zealand universities and three CRIs, with initial support from the government, are a funding partner in the Australian Synchrotron project. The synchrontron is a multi-functional, multi-user large science facility that uses very high-energy electrons to create very bright, pinpoint beams of light. These beams of synchrotron light have become essential tools for science and industry for investigating the molecular structure of things and are critical for cutting edge research in areas such as drug discovery, analysis of advanced materials and bio-medical imaging. Investing in the development of the project will ensure access to the facilities for New Zealand scientists.

¹ New Zealand Insitute of Economic Research, Measurement of Spin-outs from Foundation-funded Research, report to the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, 2005. (↑)

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• Table of Contents

• The State of Play

• Cross Strategy Indicators

• Raise foundation skills

• Skills for our knowledge society

• Strengthen research and knowledge creation

• Te rautaki mātauranga Māori

• Pacific people’s development and success

• Capability and quality

• Technical and Data Definitions