Results and review
Evaluation

We use a range of evaluation tools to assess the outputs and outcomes from our investments and processes.

An output or outcome might be a new product, process or service, building science and technology capability in firms or research organisations. Evaluations also help the Foundation make their processes more efficient.

What we evaluate

Our evaluations cover:

• science and technology for the public good
• research and development for businesses to develop new technology
• building science and technology capability
• our research investment strategies
• our investment processes.

Why we carry out evaluations

Information from our evaluation helps us assess the performance of each investment, and:

• supports our assessment of investment performance
• informs our decisions on performance management
• helps us develop and assess research investment strategies
• provides accountability data
• provides evidence of the value of research and its benefit to New Zealand, which we can share with the public, private sector, and government.
• We do not use evaluation for auditing or routine monitoring, and it is not used in the assessment of individual research proposals.

Who is involved

Evaluations involve research organisations, research users, private firms, and other stakeholders.

Where possible, our analyses synthesize results from different evaluation studies and science reviews.

In this section of the website you can:

• read about the different types of evaluations we carry out
• find out more about the ethical principles that guide our evaluations.

A comprehensive list of summaries and full reports from our past evaluations can be found in the evaluation section of our library.

Current Evaluations 

The Foundation is undertaking an evaluation of the performance of the Research for Industry (RFI) fund.

 The purpose of this evaluation is to look at the impact of the fund using information from 2002 contracts. While we will be evaluating all contracts during that period using data we already hold, a number of contract holders will be asked to assist us by providing additional information.

 We have engaged the services of independent firm, Infometrics, to carry out this work and we anticipate they will be in contact shortly. This work is being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology’s review of the economic impact of industry research and we will endeavour to make sure detailed information is only collected once.

The results of the evaluation will be used to:

• Demonstrate the impact of spending on RFI
• Demonstrate value for money from expenditure on RFI
• Inform the Foundation’s operational processes
• Inform the Foundation’s investment decisions
• Meet the Foundation’s accountability obligations in regard to the Statement of Intent.

View the RFI evaluation Terms of Reference.

 We are also undertaking aformal evaluation of TechNZ, the Foundation's business investment programme, to gain an accurate picture of the results of our investments.

The evaluation will look at the results achieved by around 35 companies who received investments over a period of up to 10 years, reflecting that research and development takes time to delver results.

It will follow a similar process to the RFI evaluation, and we are also using the services of the independent external consultancy firm Infometrics.

View the TechNZ evaluation Terms of Reference.

If you have any questions about the RFI or TechNZ evaluations, please email info@frst.govt.nz.