Taskforce on options for strengthening the settings for Crown research institutes (CRI Taskforce) - Terms of Reference

Introduction

This Terms of Reference sets out the purpose, context, scope, process, deliverables and timeframe for the CRI Taskforce.

Purpose

Government wants CRIs that respond strategically to the needs of their end-users in a way that will drive future economic growth.

The Taskforce will contribute to work to position the New Zealand RS&T system for the future. There is a need and opportunity to position the CRIs to deliver future benefits to New Zealand. The Taskforce will recommend changes to the settings under which CRIs operate. The goal is to enable each CRI to increase their effectiveness in delivering benefit to New Zealand, and in particular to assist in achieving a more innovative and higher-productivity economy.

Context

The Prime Minister has written to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology and asked him to establish a small Taskforce. Its role is to recommend ways to derive better national good from public investment in Crown research institutes (CRIs).

To achieve this, the Prime Minister has asked that the Taskforce recommendations include, among other things, the following:

  1. the development of clear and tailored statements for each CRI that set out their core purpose, specific role, responsibilities and performance expectations in delivering national benefit
  2. supporting this through appropriate funding mechanisms that balance long-term capability needs and shorter term dynamism
  3. strengthening CRIs’ accountability for delivery through appropriate governance, and periodic whole-of-organisation review of both financial and non-financial performance measures
  4. improving CRI working relationships with other New Zealand research and education providers and particularly how they serve their appropriate business stakeholders
  5. ensuring CRIs are effectively internationally connected in their areas of responsibility.

Scope

The CRI Taskforce will provide advice on the following:

  1. Recommendations and assessment of any alternative or additional initiatives that could be taken to strengthen the CRI model, including the merits of reconfiguring the number and scope of CRIs.
  2. Guidelines for developing ‘statements of core purpose’ for each CRI, including how stakeholder views should be incorporated and how often such statements should be issued.
  3. Advice on how to improve the overall governance of CRIs including consideration of how to strengthen their Boards.
  4. Guidelines for reviewing performance against statements of core purpose and other performance measures.
  5. Recommendations that will ensure CRIs partner with other research providers and with the private sector, with specific reference to:
    • relationships with universities and the alignment of staff incentives, career paths and the opportunity for staff interchange
    • relationships with CoREs and the opportunity for staff interchange
    • relationships with the private sector and appropriate incentives for transferring knowledge.
  6. Assessment of the current method of measuring financial performance and viability, any views on alternative methods of ensuring financial performance and viability, and any suitable non-financial performance measures for individual CRIs.
  7. Principles for determining core funding levels for each CRI including how to achieve a balance between long-term capability needs while ensuring continued short-term dynamism.
  8. The impact of any changes to core funding to CRIs on wider RS&T funding mechanisms (e.g. whether core funding to CRIs leaves a critical mass for funding via contestable processes).
  9. Relationships with international research organisations and other international linkages.
  10. How any recommended changes to the CRI model fit within the wider RS&T system.
  11. Any necessary changes to the organisational form of the CRIs including changes to the Crown Research Institute Act (1992) or other legislation.
  12. An assessment of the timing for introducing change to the CRIs.

Process

Taskforce membership

The Taskforce will be comprised of eight members as follows:

  • Four external persons with experience domestically and internationally. One of these people will be appointed to Chair the Taskforce.
  • Chief Executives (or their delegates) from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), The Treasury and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST).
  • Chief Executive of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Role of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor

The Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor has provided Cabinet with his views on strengthening CRIs. He will therefore have a close interest in the work of the Taskforce. He is not a Taskforce member but the Taskforce should keep him informed of progress and seek his input and engagement in their work in order to inform their final recommendations.

Engagement across government and the science sector

The Taskforce is expected to seek input and expertise from relevant Government agencies, sector groups and research organisations, including:

  • Crown research institutes
  • the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
  • the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit and the Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit (following its establishment)
  • Government departments
  • other users of CRI research such as territorial local authorities, and
  • Industry and business groups.

Taskforce Secretariat and Support

Officials from MoRST, Treasury and DPMC will act as secretariat to the Taskforce. It will work in conjunction with other agencies, particularly the Foundation and CCMAU. The secretariat will also contribute to work on implementation following a Cabinet decision on the recommendations from the Taskforce.

Confidentiality

The contents of the Taskforce’s recommendations should remain confidential until such time as Ministers release that information.

Deliverables

The Taskforce will report to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology and the Minister of Finance with recommendations on ways to enhance the CRIs ability to deliver on national priorities. The Minister of Research, Science and Technology will use the Taskforce’s advice to inform a report to Cabinet that seeks agreement to changing the policy settings for CRIs and implement any other such recommendations as it sees fit.

Timeframe

The Taskforce should first convene as soon as possible following Cabinet approval. The Taskforce should provide an interim report to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology and the Minister of Finance by 27 November 2009. A final report is due in early 2010.

The Taskforce should utilise the resources of its secretariat support to complete all necessary deliberations within this timeframe.


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Page updated 28 Oct 2009