Results and review
Review
Review is used worldwide for research investment and reinvestment processes. Foundation reviews may target specific components of a contract or address the contact as a whole. A review may include assessment of:
- academic, scientific and technical quality
- fit with national priorities
- governance and management
- delivery (actual and potential) of outcomes of national benefit
- technology transfer and/or commercialisation
Reviews intend to:
- give us confidence to commence or continue an investment
- identify obstacles that are preventing investments from performing optimally
- ensure research findings will be relevant to, and used by end-users
- advise/critique the future strategic direction of research.
Review approaches
Once the new Ministry of Science and Innovation is fully operational in 2011, and with the implementation of core funding to Crown research institutes, there will be changes to the review process.
Until these changes are made the Foundation will conduct reviews that address contract management requirements. These include reviews necessitated by contract conditions, underperformance, and opportunities for new or continued investment.
We currently use two approaches for reviews—targeted appraisals and review (explained below). Both approaches typically assess the performance and future delivery of the Foundation’s research investment. Assessments may be both retrospective (looking back to assess performance) and prospective (looking forward to assess strategic planning).
1) Targeted appraisals:
Targeted appraisals assess the performance of a single Foundation contract to maximise the outcome of the investment. Targeted appraisals can serve to address predetermined steps, mitigate risks, or explore new opportunities. The objective of each appraisal is tailored to fit the specified contract and appraisal purpose. The approach involves interaction between the contract holder and a team of at least two experts, including a Foundation Investment Manager.
Potential consequences of the targeted appraisal could be:
- development and implementation of an action plan to address problems or new opportunities
- contract variations
- change to level of funding
- status quo
2) Reviews:
The scope and scale of reviews are broader than that of targeted appraisals. Reviews are a broad-scale assessment of a single investment, or multiple investments, within a particular research area. The process involves interaction between the contract holder and a panel of independent experts.
Reviews will assess at least the following four broad characteristics aligned with Foundation assessment of research proposals:
- the benefits to New Zealand
- research, science and technology benefits to New Zealand
- implementation pathway
- delivery of research, science and technology results.
Reviews are published on the Foundation’s website here.