David Cunliffe – 
david.cunliffe@parliament.govt.nz
So, Science and Innovation are a central policy issue for the John Key Government.
Their challenge is to walk the talk and Science & Innovation Minister Steven Joyce’s National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI) unfortunately doesn’t come close.
New Zealand’s average investment in science and innovation is less than half the OECD’s average of 2.3% of Gross Domestic Product and we rank in the bottom quarter of countries when it comes to research and development.
Declining spending
Since the National Government took office in November 2008, our country’s spending on Science and Innovation and Science Investment has been declining as a proportion of GDP, with little real progress since budget 2008-2009.
Innovation by Kiwi companies is now still less than 2009 levels.
These are deep-seated trends. They are not political rhetoric. They show that Mr Joyce is paying lip service to any chance of a smart economy.
It may sound great when the Government says that it is increasing the R&D spend from 0.67% to 0.8% of GDP. But the catch comes a few words later.
Weasel Words
When the NISS says this is ‘dependent on fiscal conditions,’ it sounds more like weasel words than an iron-clad guarantee to spend.
Inequality, particularly educational and technological inequality, is dragging down our national development. Underfunding of the sector is seeing a flow of Kiwi scientists heading overseas. If we want a smart economy, we need to be exporting innovative ideas and solutions, not our brightest minds.
This year we have seen 83 jobs slashed at AgResearch, which was described at the time as the ‘largest loss of scientific talent’ since World War Two and ‘a national shame.’
Mr Joyce’s National Science Strategy is not addressing the loss of scientists.
Brain drain
It is not committing to any post-doctoral research funding, despite over 50 submissions noting how critical this is to retaining our young scientists.
With this approach, it is no wonder that domestic doctoral enrolments are falling while international enrolments are skyrocketing. That is fine if we want to be an incubator for international students but we aren’t capturing the value.
I believe that a tweak here and nudge there just won’t do it.
The Government has clearly not listened to the sector.
In 2014, three quarters of scientists were dissatisfied with current funding mechanisms, with a staggering four-fifths saying Joyce’s National Science Challenges are of little benefit to New Zealand.
Scientist warns
The Director of the prestigious MacDiarmid Institute warned the current focus on commercial returns has gone too far. Plans to ‘use competition between scientists for funding’ to drive research sounds like another bidding war and a huge waste of time for scientists.
Last week’s MOTU Research Report had confirmed that New Zealand’s research sector is woefully underfunded by international standards. By failing to increase the Marsden Fund and barely increasing The Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF), our Government has missed a real opportunity to show leadership and improve our high-quality academic outputs.
New Zealand faces a stark choice – lift our game in science, innovation and technology or face a future as a low value, price-taking commodity exporter. We need a clearer and better supported strategy and a higher level of public and private investment.
Science is a public good that benefits all.
Let us walk the talk.
David Cunliffe has been an elected Member of Parliament from 1999 (from New Lynn since 2002) and is the Labour Party’s Spokesperson for Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Regional Development.
