Science funding plans attacked

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 30

Science funding plans attacked

PA Wellington Proposals for Government science funding show an “incredible faith” in market mechanisms, the Public Service Association says. The P.S.A.’s president, Ms Sue Piper, said the Science and Technology Advisory Committee’s report, “A New Deal,” called for a “more market” approach to science funding but failed to address New Zealand science’s real problem — low spending. The committee proposed Government science agencies, such as the D.S.I.R. and MAFTech, lose their guaranteed funding and compete for funds with other agencies.

The review suggests the Government only needs to own research agencies for areas like defence.

Ms Piper said instead of adopting the recommendations, the Government should return to the Beattie report of 1986, which called for adequate funding of science and stable careers for scientists.

“The S.T.A.C. (science and technology) committee relies on an incredible

faith in the market mechanism and suggests that if research is needed, the market will ensure it is provided — by a multinational (company) if necessary. But not all desirable research has good marketing potential,” she said. “Market-led research will be oriented towards profits, the wealthy and multinational interests.”

The report failed to address the fact that the New Zealand private sector was too small to invest in long-term research and development. “The S.T.A.C. committee argues that the risk of research and development investment should not be transferred to the taxpayer. “On the contrary, given the excellent returns New Zealand has gained from our research and development investment, and the importance of adequate research and development investment for a successful economic future, the P.S.A. argues the Government cannot afford the risk of leaving research and development to a small stagnating marketplace,” Ms Piper said.