National Science Challenges

The National Science Challenges (NSC) are 11 ten-year collaborative science programmes in New Zealand, established in 2014. They are "cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges", and are funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.[1]

TypeResearch programme
Location
  • New Zealand
Budget
$NZ680m
FundingMBIE
Websitewww.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/national-science-challenges/

Establishment

The NSC initiative was developed over 2012–13 by the New Zealand government's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a restructure of national scientific research funding.[2] Established in advance of the 2014 general election, the Challenges were funded with $680.8 million over ten years, broken into two five-year phases.[3][4] The science challenges they address were intended to be "the most important national-scale issues facing New Zealand".[4] The challenges are collaborative and multi-disciplinary, creating new teams of researchers drawn from universities and other research institutions, iwi, Crown Research Institutes, businesses, community organisations, and NGOs.[5]

Sir Peter Gluckman

The Challenges share five principles, summarised by MBIE as:[3]

  1. Mission-led
  2. Science quality
  3. Best research team collaboration
  4. Stakeholder engagement & public participation
  5. Māori involvement and mātauranga

The selection process involved a period of public consultation over late 2012–early 2013, and then selection by a "peak panel" of researchers, chaired by Peter Gluckman.[2][6] The selection panel consisted of William Denny, Ian Ferguson, Peter Hunter, Mary O’Kane, Jacqueline Rowarth, Richie Poulton, Charles Royal, David Penman, Elf Eldridge, and Rachael Wiltshire.[7]

Launch of Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge at Ōtākou Marae on 4 December 2015; Minister for Science and Innovation Steven Joyce on far left

The first phase of funding from 2013 to 2018 led to eleven Challenges being established beginning in 2014; the last was launched on 5 May 2016. At the midway review in 2018 the Challenges received their second tranche of funding ($320 million) to last from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.[4]

Expert reaction to the review highlighted concerns over the way the challenges were initially selected, and whether the cost of governance means more could have been achieved through investing in existing funding mechanisms. The president of the New Zealand Association of Scientists, Heide Friedrich, said “The New Zealand Association of Scientists has concerns if the review process asked the right questions, given the recommendation is to approve the second tranche of funding without changes." Shaun Hendy commented that "After some public input, the National Science Challenges were more or less selected by a panel led by Sir Peter Gluckman but most of us still find this process rather mysterious."[8]

A 2016 critique of the programme asserted that although "Māori involvement and mātauranga" is one of the core principles of their establishment, the National Science Challenges "moved to marginalize input by Māori researchers. Māori research approaches and complaints were recorded by the MBIE in NSC documents, but not substantively addressed".[2] Subsequently the organisation Rauika Māngai was created, a group of Māori researchers representing the eleven National Science Challenges and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (Aotearoa New Zealand’s Centre of Māori Research Excellence). Rauika Māngai worked with the Challenges to improve partnerships with Māori communities and implement the 2020 Vision Mātauranga policy.[9]

Challenges
Challenge[5] Launch date Funding Host Website
A Better Start, E Tipu e Rea
Improving the potential for young New Zealanders to have healthy and successful lives.		 19 February 2016 Up to $34.7 million over 10 years University of Auckland http://www.abetterstart.nz/
Ageing Well, Kia eke kairangi ki te taikaumātuatanga
Sustaining health and well-being as people age, enabling all New Zealanders to reach their full potential into the later years of life.		 4 March 2015 Initial: Up to $34.9 million over 10 years.

Midway review: $20.3M (July 2019 – June 2024)[10]

 University of Otago http://www.ageingwellchallenge.co.nz/ [11]
Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora
Improving the quality and supply of housing and create smart and attractive urban environments.		 5 May 2016 Up to $47.9 million over 10 years BRANZ http://www.buildingbetter.nz/ [12]
Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora
Researching how to significantly reducing the death and disease burden of some of New Zealand’s leading health problems.		 4 December 2015 Up to $31.3 million over 10 years University of Otago https://healthierlives.co.nz/[13]
High-Value Nutrition, Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga
Developing high-value foods with validated health benefits to drive economic growth.		 1 April 2014 Up to $83.8 million over 10 years University of Auckland http://www.highvaluenutrition.co.nz/[14]
New Zealand's Biological Heritage, Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho
Protecting and managing New Zealand’s biodiversity, improve our biosecurity, and enhance our resilience to harmful organisms.		 29 August 2014 Up to $63.7 million over 10 years Landcare Research http://www.biologicalheritage.nz/[15]
Our Land and Water, Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai
Enhancing the production and productivity of New Zealand’s primary sector, while maintaining and improving the quality of the country’s land and water for future generations.		 26 January 2016 Up to $96.9 million over 10 years AgResearch http://www.ourlandandwater.nz/[16]
Resilience to Nature's Challenges, Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa
Enhancing New Zealand’s ability to anticipate, adapt and thrive in the face of ever-changing natural hazards.		 30 June 2015 Up to $59.4 million over 10 years Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science http://resiliencechallenge.nz/[17]
Science for Technological Innovation, Kia kotahi mai – Te Ao Pūtaiao me Te Ao Hangarau
Tackling New Zealand’s big high-tech challenges to grow the economy.		 16 September 2015 Up to $106 million over 10 years.

Midway review: $72.7m over five years.[18]

 Callaghan Innovation http://www.sftichallenge.govt.nz/[19]
Sustainable Seas, Ko ngā moana whakauka
Enhancing the use of New Zealand marine resources within environmental and biological constraints.		 4 September 2014 Up to $71.1 million over 10 years.

Midway review: $39.8m over five years.[20]

 National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research http://sustainableseaschallenge.co.nz/[21]
The Deep South, Te Kōmata o Te Tonga
Understanding the role of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean in determining New Zealand’s future climate.		 5 August 2014 Initial funding: Up to $51.1 million over 10 years.

Midway review: $27.1m over five years[22]

 NIWA http://www.deepsouthchallenge.co.nz/[23]

References
  1. Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao (11 October 2016). "New Zealand's National Science Challenges". Science Learning Hub. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. Prussing, Erica; Newbury, Elizabeth (February 2016). "Neoliberalism and indigenous knowledge: Māori health research and the cultural politics of New Zealand's "National Science Challenges"". Social Science & Medicine. 150: 57–66. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.012. PMID 26735331.
  3. "National Science Challenges". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  4. "Mid-way review of the National Science Challenge". MBIE.
  5. "The 11 challenges in the National Science Challenge". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  6. Morton, Jamie (20 May 2013). "Science experiments leaves expert cold". NZ Herald. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  7. "National Science Challenge Panel appointed". The Beehive. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. "National Science Challenges mid-way review – Expert Reaction". Science Media Centre. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  9. Annabel, McAleer (17 March 2022). "New Leaders Continue the Innovative Work of Rauika Māngai". Our Land & Water - Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  10. Kraakman, Beck (18 November 2018). "Challenge refunded through to 2024!". Ageing Well National Science Challenge. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  11. "Ageing Well | Kia eke kairangi ki te taikaumātuatanga". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  12. "Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities | Ko ngā wā kāinga hei whakamāhorahora". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  13. "Healthier Lives | He Oranga Hauora". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  14. "High-value Nutrition | Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  15. "New Zealand's Biological Heritage | Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  16. "Our Land and Water | Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  17. "Resilience to Nature's challenges | Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  18. Victoria University of Wellington (21 November 2018). "Professor welcomes National Science Challenge boost | News | Victoria University of Wellington". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  19. "Science for Technological Innovation | Kia kotahi mai – Te Ao Pūtaiao me Te Ao Hangarau". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  20. "Minister announces Phase II funding". Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  21. "Sustainable Seas | Ko ngā moana whakauka". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
  22. "Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Megan Woods announces further Challenge funding | Deep South Challenge". Deep South Challenge | Climate Change Tools & Information. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  23. "The Deep South | Te Kōmata o Te Tonga". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
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