Crown Research Institute
In New Zealand, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised Crown entities charged with conducting scientific research.[1][2]
Crown Research Institutes date from 1992, with most formed out of parts of the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and of elements of various government departments.[3] The dissolution of the DSIR, along with the government-imposed requirement that the CRIs become "financially viable" and operate on commercial lines, created a certain amount of resentment among some scientists.[citation needed]
The Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 states the purpose of a CRI as carrying out research, and that each CRI must do this for the benefit of New Zealand, pursuing excellence in all that it does, abiding by ethical standards and recognising social responsibility; and operating as a good employer.[4] A CRI must do these things whilst remaining financially viable. The technical definition of financial viability changes from time to time, but as of 2007[update] focused on return on equity. The State does not expect CRIs to maximise profit, but simply to cover the costs of capital. This formula aims to ensure appropriate commercial disciplines whilst fulfilling scientific purposes.[citation needed]
The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science and
Governance and administration
CRIs were originally governed under a standalone Act, the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992. In 2004, as part of a wider reform of government entities, they were brought under the Crown Entities Act 2004 as a type of crown-entity company.[5]
The New Zealand Government — via two
Day-to-day, however, CRIs operate as any commercial company would, acting within their strategic statement of intent (agreed with the shareholding Ministers) that aligns with the CRI Act purpose and principles.[citation needed]
The CRIs, along with Callaghan Innovation, cooperate as Science New Zealand.[6][7]
Funding
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NSOF (the Non-Specific Output Fund) provided CRIs with some independent public-good research-funding streams from 1992 to 2005. The CRI Capability Fund (CF) replaced NSOF as from 1 July 2005. It provided public funding to maintain, enhance, and foster current or new capabilities. In 2010, the Government provided each CRI with core funding to deliver outcomes for the benefit of New Zealand. Core funding gives CRIs greater financial certainty and comprises a significant proportion of total funding available to CRIs.[8]
List of CRIs
Current[update] CRIs:
- New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute (AgResearch)[9]
- New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research (Plant & Food Research)[10]
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)[11]
- GNS Science, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences[14]
- Landcare Research (Landcare Research)[15]
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)[15]
Another CRI, the Institute For Social Research and Development, was disestablished in 1995 after failing to achieve financial viability.
Industrial Research Limited (IRL) merged into a new Crown entity, Callaghan Innovation, on 1 February 2013.[18]
See also
- Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network
- ARENA
References
- ^ "Crown Research Institutes | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment". www.mbie.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "Appendix 1: About Crown research institutes". Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ISBN 1-86940-130-1.
- ^ Crown Research Institutes Act 1992, section 5
- ^ Crown Entities Act 2004, Schedule 2
- ^ "About". sciencenewzealand.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "Purpose". sciencenewzealand.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "How we invest". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "View All Details". business.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "View All Details". business.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "View All Details". business.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Scion". 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
SCION
- ^ "New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited". business.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
NEW ZEALAND FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIMITED
- ^ "View All Details". business.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Crown Research Institutes - Careers at Science New Zealand". careers.sciencenewzealand.org. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Crop and Food and Hortresearch to merge". The New Zealand Herald. 24 September 2008.
- ^ "NZ Institute for Social Research & Development". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ Eskow, Simon (1 February 2013). "Callaghan Innovation touted as business enabler". Business Day.