Scientific co-operation urged

Press, 27 September 1983, Page 8

Scientific co-operation urged

PA Wellington The Minister of Science, Dr Shearer, has urged greater scientific and technological co-operation between New Zealand and Australia. Joint approaches to solving common red-meat industry problems need to be investigated, he told the Australian National Technology conference in Canberra yesterday. “We’should consider a partnership to develop the technology for conversion of

coal to liquid fuels, strategically significant to both our countries,” he said. There had been a substantial amount of co-operative research and exchange of technological information between the two countries. "We must build on that partnership, combining our talents for our mutual benefit,” he said. Dr Shearer outlined some New Zealand companies’ in-. volvement with Australian firms, saying it reflected an increasing interrat by the New Zealand private sector.

“One of the biggest obstacles to date has been the Federal and state Australian preferential purchasing policy, which is still in operation. “If my Government were to adopt a similar protective measure, that would severely restrict opportunities for Australian manufacturers in the New Zealand market,” he said. New Zealand was placing more and more emphasis on market-led research and development and the strategic contribution of science and

technology to the economy. Steps were now being taken to provide a science strategy for the decades ahead. Strengths and deficiencies had been revealed after a review, he said.

The brat growth opportunities would be identified now and incorporated in a science and technology policy and plan available next year, Dr Shearer said. It would be reviewed and where necessary revised on an annual basis. A new science and technology council, with widened powers and responsibilities, would carry out the annual reviews, he said. Its task would be to link science and technology to the country’s economic development and planning, to assess results, and to ensure that resources were applied efficiently to the key growth areas.