N.Z. could slide into an ‘anti-technology mode’

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 5

N.Z. could slide into an ‘anti-technology mode’

Leaders of New Zealand’s electronics industry have expressed concern that the country is in danger of sliding into an “anti-technology mode.” The Government was glossing over the importance of science and technology for New Zealand’s future benefit, said the National Electronics Development Association.

The chairman of N.E.D.A., Dr Don Barnes, said that traditional dependence on a pastoralbased economy was no longer sufficient. Speaking after a meeting of the association’s national council in Wellington last week, Dr Barnes said that New Zealand had to adopt policies which positively encouraged innovation and scientific development.

“It is innovation that provides the key to New Zealand’s future wellbeing, and that is something we should be good at. What is lacking, however, is a nationally coordinated plan which will create the right environment for innovation to flourish,” he said. Dr Barnes criticised Treasury attitudes toward funding of technology industries as “outdated.” It was no use relying on consumer demand.

“If the Treasury had their way, research funding would probably be applied only to technologies which are on the rising curve of success and implementation. We should have learnt enough from the rapid changes of

the last 20 or 30 years to know that brand new technologies have to be ready and waiting in the wings,” he said. Every' good technology had its heyday, then almost overnight disappeared as its successor took over, he said. “Long term research is all about being ready with the next technology,” said Dr Barnes. N.E.D.A. saw three distinct arms of long-term research — universities, Government bodies and industry. Funding had to be maintained for universi-

ties, to maintain pure research. Much pure research was prompted by curiosity rather than market forces, but was the cornerstone of future developments.

The Government area included bodies such as the D.5.1.R., whose role was to apply the results of pure research to new devices and processes. “Here too, public funding will always be needed because individual industries will see much of this work as being too premature for them to invest in,” said Dr Barnes.

In the privately-funded industrial research area, Dr Barnes called for new attitudes. Industry leaders needed to be aware of developments, and ready to’’“seize or create opportunities.” N.E.D.A. was also calling for more industry involvement in policymaking. It wanted a forum set up, involving industry, the Government, academics and financiers. That jointly funded body, and not the Government alone, would make recommendations about key issues.