WELLINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods released the revised 2019-2021 Endeavour Fund Investment Plan on Monday, with new investment signals to support the government's aim of transitioning to a more sustainable economy.
The Endeavor Fund supports over 200 million NZ dollars (132 million U.S. dollars) of research each year, investing in ambitious research ideas with the potential to transform New Zealand economy, environment and society, Woods said, adding it will invest 58 million NZ dollars (38 million U.S. dollars) of new annual funding between 2019 and 2021.
The Endeavor Fund will now be guided by investment signals that reflect the government's priorities of growing R&D intensive industries, and transitioning to a low emissions economy. These new signals will initiate much needed research into both areas, she said.
"Research, science and innovation will make a vital contribution towards improving kiwi's lives by informing and improving how we respond to the social, economic and environmental challenges we face," she added.
The new investment plan also introduces a new approach to supporting higher-risk, transformational research programs proposals.
This is to encourage research proposals in emerging areas where impact can be initially harder to assess, such as technologies, and goods and services which are new to New Zealand, or new to the world, Woods said.
