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Current funding
Health and Society Research Scheme

This gazetted document is the Ministerial Direction for investing Foundation funds in the Health and Society Research Scheme from 1 July 2010.

Note: the Health component of the appropriation that funds this Scheme (which is the majority of the appropriation) goes to the Health Research Council and is governed by separate accountability documents.  This Direction addresses only the society research component of the appropriation which is managed by the Foundation.

Objective of the Scheme

The objective of the Scheme is to increase understanding of the social and economic factors contributing to improved health and social wellbeing of New Zealanders.

The Scheme will support research, science and technology that is intended to be of benefit to New Zealand.

It is also expected that the scheme will support relevant research that contributes to unlocking the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people as outlined in the Vision Mātauranga policy framework.  International collaboration will be supported where this is relevant and of benefit to the objectives of the Scheme.

Indicators of success

If successful, the Scheme will generate and support the uptake of research, science and technology that will contribute to:

  • innovations in social and economic policy, social services delivery in central and local government, community services sectors and business arising from an increased understanding of key social and economic trends and behaviours.

The above indicator will be measured by the Foundation at a sector level and will provide some indication of the success of the Scheme through regular evaluations.

Nature of the Scheme

The scheme will achieve its objectives by supporting research, science, and technology in the following areas:

  • Society — Research to understand, anticipate and help manage major societal challenges, trends and implications ~ such as changes in population and life course, social structures and institutions, wealth generation, lifestyles and values ~ to inform social and economic policies and services. Important priorities are the determinants of wellbeing and seeking solutions to problems such as inequalities, social exclusion, acquiring knowledge, poverty, housing, and anti-social behaviour such as crime, delinquency and drugs.
  • Economy — Research on New Zealand’s economic and technological development in the wider context of social, cultural and economic wellbeing. Priority areas include research on economic performance, productivity, knowledge production and exploitation, innovation systems, skills, indigenous innovation, the economy, and sustainable development of technologies.

Tools for Allocating Funding

Research, science and technology supported under this Scheme must in each case fit one of the following Tools (PDF; 313kb):

  • Science-led contestable funding – investing through a contestable process in research, science and technology and related activities.
  • Long term non-contestable funding - using non-contestable processes to invest in research, science and technology and related activities.

Estimated Funding

An estimate of the amount of funds required to be allocated by the Foundation for the purposes of the Scheme is $10.74  million in 2010/11, excluding GST.  Actual funding available will be published each year in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.

Estimated Period of Operation

The Scheme will operate for a minimum of three years from 1 July 2010; however I anticipate reviewing this notice by 1 July 2011.

Monitoring Agency

The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology will monitor and review the Scheme.

Performance Measures

Annual performance measures for the Scheme will be published in the annual Estimates of Appropriation.  Additional performance measures to measure progress will be specified in the Output Agreement.