Crown Research Institutes
Encyclopedia
In New Zealand
, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised
Crown entities charged with conducting scientific
research
.
Crown Research Institutes date from 1992, with most formed out of the parts of the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
(DSIR) and of elements of various government departments. The dissolution of the DSIR, along with the government-imposed requirement that the CRIs become "financially viable" and operate on commercial lines, created a certain amount of resentment among some scientists.
The Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 states the purpose of a CRI as carrying out research, and that each CRI must do this for the benefit of New Zealand, pursuing excellence
in all that it does, abiding by ethical
standards and recognising social responsibility
; and operating as a good employer. A CRI must do these things whilst remaining financially viable. The technical definition of financial viability changes from time to time, but focuses on return on equity
. The State does not expect CRIs to maximise profit, but simply to cover costs of capital. This formula aims to ensure appropriate commercial disciplines whilst fulfilling scientific purposes.
The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science and technology
. In other words, they have the role of "making a difference" with the research they produce. They do this via strategic, long-term relationships with sectors (the CRI Act set up most of the CRIs with a sector-orientation), to support, sustain, challenge and develop existing sectors and also to lead development of new sectors.
, "professional
" and science expertise — operates according to the Companies Act as well as the CRI Act (1992) and other relevant Acts. Each Board produces an annual report
and reports to the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (CCMAU), (part of The Treasury
) which represents the shareholders. Parliament also scrutinises each CRI on a regular basis.
Day-to-day, however, CRIs operate as any commercial company would, acting within their strategic statement of intent (agreed with the Shareholders) that aligns with the CRI Act purpose and principles.
The CRIs cooperate as Science New Zealand, formerly the Association of Crown Research Institutes.
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
(trading as Plant & Food Research) was formed by the combination of Crop & Food Research
and HortResearch on 1 December 2008
Another CRI, the Institute For Social Research and Development, was disestablished in 1995 after failing to achieve financial viability. It should not be confused with the UN agency
of the same name.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are corporatised
Corporatization
Corporatization refers to the transformation of state assets or agencies into state-owned corporations in order to introduce corporate management techniques to their administration...
Crown entities charged with conducting scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
.
Crown Research Institutes date from 1992, with most formed out of the parts of the former Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Several countries have organizations called the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated DSIR.-United Kingdom:...
(DSIR) and of elements of various government departments. The dissolution of the DSIR, along with the government-imposed requirement that the CRIs become "financially viable" and operate on commercial lines, created a certain amount of resentment among some scientists.
The Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 states the purpose of a CRI as carrying out research, and that each CRI must do this for the benefit of New Zealand, pursuing excellence
Excellence
Excellence is a talent or quality which is unusually good and so surpasses ordinary standards. It is also an aimed for standard of performance.-History:...
in all that it does, abiding by ethical
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
standards and recognising social responsibility
Social responsibility
Social responsibility is an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual or organization has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the...
; and operating as a good employer. A CRI must do these things whilst remaining financially viable. The technical definition of financial viability changes from time to time, but focuses on return on equity
Return on equity
Return on equity measures the rate of return on the ownership interest of the common stock owners. It measures a firm's efficiency at generating profits from every unit of shareholders' equity . ROE shows how well a company uses investment funds to generate earnings growth...
. The State does not expect CRIs to maximise profit, but simply to cover costs of capital. This formula aims to ensure appropriate commercial disciplines whilst fulfilling scientific purposes.
The State charges CRIs with promoting the transfer and dissemination of research, science and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. In other words, they have the role of "making a difference" with the research they produce. They do this via strategic, long-term relationships with sectors (the CRI Act set up most of the CRIs with a sector-orientation), to support, sustain, challenge and develop existing sectors and also to lead development of new sectors.
Governance and administration
The New Zealand Government — via two Cabinet Ministers (the Minister of Research, Science and Technology and the Minister of Finance) — holds all shares in each of the eight CRIs. Cabinet appoints a Board for each CRI. Each Board — intended to comprise businessBusiness
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, "professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
" and science expertise — operates according to the Companies Act as well as the CRI Act (1992) and other relevant Acts. Each Board produces an annual report
Annual report
An annual report is a comprehensive report on a company's activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the company's activities and financial performance...
and reports to the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (CCMAU), (part of The Treasury
New Zealand Treasury
The New Zealand Treasury is a public sector organisation and the Government’s lead advisor on economic and financial policy. Its role is to help the Government improve economic performance and manage scarce resources...
) which represents the shareholders. Parliament also scrutinises each CRI on a regular basis.
Day-to-day, however, CRIs operate as any commercial company would, acting within their strategic statement of intent (agreed with the Shareholders) that aligns with the CRI Act purpose and principles.
The CRIs cooperate as Science New Zealand, formerly the Association of Crown Research Institutes.
Funding
NSOF (the Non-Specific Output Fund) provided CRIs with some independent public-good research-funding streams from 1992 to 2005. The CRI Capability Fund (CF) replaced NSOF as from July 1, 2005. It provides public funding to maintain, enhance, and foster current or new capabilities.List of CRIs
CRIs:- New Zealand Pastoral Agriculture Research Institute (AgResearch)
- New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food ResearchNew Zealand Institute for Plant and Food ResearchPlant & Food Research is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute . The institute was formed on 1 December 2008 by merging existing CRIs HortResearch and Crop and Food Research....
(Plant & Food Research) - Institute of Environmental Science and ResearchInstitute of Environmental Science and ResearchThe Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited is a Crown Research Institute in New Zealand.ESR's work underpins the health and justice systems in New Zealand by providing services in environmental health and forensic science....
(ESR) - ScionScion (Crown Research Institute)Scion, officially registered as New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited, is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Its origins as a research organisation started in 1947 as part of the New Zealand Forest Service...
(New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited) - GNS ScienceGNS ScienceGNS Science is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. It focuses on geology, geophysics , and nuclear science ....
, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences - Industrial Research LimitedIndustrial Research LimitedIndustrial Research Limited is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. IRL provides research, development and commercialisation services aim at fostering industry development, economic growth and business expansion...
(IRL) - Landcare ResearchLandcare Research New Zealand LimitedLandcare Research is one of New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes. The focus of the research at this company is the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability.-History:...
(Landcare Research) - National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchNational Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchThe National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research or NIWA , is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. Established in 1992, NIWA conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences...
(NIWA)
The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research
Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute . The institute was formed on 1 December 2008 by merging existing CRIs HortResearch and Crop and Food Research....
(trading as Plant & Food Research) was formed by the combination of Crop & Food Research
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research
The Institute for Crop and Food Research was formed in 1992 as a New Zealand-based biological science Crown Research Institute researching new knowledge in five main areas:* sustainable water and land use* high performance plants* personalised foods...
and HortResearch on 1 December 2008
Another CRI, the Institute For Social Research and Development, was disestablished in 1995 after failing to achieve financial viability. It should not be confused with the UN agency
United Nations Research Institute For Social Development
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development is "an autonomous United Nations agency that carries out research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development"...
of the same name.