Science City

Prime Minister John Key announced that science would receive the third-largest spending increase after health and education in the 2010 Budget. The increase would help lift the long-term performance of the economy, and help establish a high-performance public science system, he said.

There are huge opportunities highlighted in biotechnology; climate change and environmental sciences and aquaculture amongst others. Mayoral candidate, Allan Probert believes that as New Zealand’s scientific heartland, Wellington is well positioned to benefit on a long term and sustainable basis with science playing a key role in Wellington’s future.

“Small to medium-sized businesses are often major contributors in the science and innovation industry, and they needed support to really thrive. “

Allan has conducted extensive research for policies around science and innovation and sees some interesting issues as well exciting opportunities for science and innovation in Wellington;

“I see5 big challenges facing the science sector in NZ – these are

1. Finding and retaining talent - not enough good graduates coming through the system in many disciplines so the CRIs and private science organisations are having to recruit overseas. Graduate and post doc seminars  are full of foreigners - students who have been studying here or have just arrived to work here.
2. Low levels of research and development across the private sector - we compare very badly to the OECD and this has translated into lower GDP and trade levels. We are innovative but we don't know how to foster an innovation industry.
3. There aren't enough incentives for international scientific organisations to locate in Wellington (and New Zealand)  or to partner with New Zealand organisations - we need to see this whole area ramped up.
4. The CRIs are required to return nine per cent profit for the Government but they are also supposed to do blue skies research in the public good. The tension between the two functions is great and it isn't really working.
5. There isn't much funding - we have a problem with scale and we are trying to do everything well. Many argue we should concentrate on just a few types of science and try and become work leaders at them. “

Based on these challenges I see several opportunities for Wellington, some of which include

“ First and foremost I would seek leadership in this sector by working with central government and with schools to set up science programmes and incentives in local schools and universities to make sure more people get turned on to science and go through to study it at a tertiary level.  Ideally I would seek to explore the feasibility of driving a Wellington school science fair”

- I would also investigate what assistance could be provided for companies in the region that are interested in doing more R&D – Possibilities include a the Creative HQ infrastructure for companies doing R&D for a set period of time.

- In addition to the amazing gains already made to promote Wellington as a tourist destination, I would also seek to make serious efforts to attract international companies and to base labs here. The Welsh Development Agency has already blazed the trail here and it is definitely worth looking at what lessons there are for Wellington.

- As Mayor I would also investigate the feasibility of grants and/or other types of assistance for scientific organisations that commit to the Wellington region.

-Other options I would also explore would be a Science Museum in Wellington and how to better work with existing scientific institutions already in Wellington such as Niwa”