Wellington
It’s that time of year when we fly kites, give voice to possibilities.
So, given we have a new Science and Innovation minister, namely Paul Goldsmith, how aboutexploring whether now is a good time to put seriously explore forming a Science and InnovationCouncil.
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After all, if it is good enough for countries such as Denmark, Finland and Singapore (economiesthat we like to rate and rank ourselves against) surely it is good enough for us.
Stick’s blogged about the desirability of such a high-level, well-connected, oversight body
It was also Recommendation 13 in 'Powering Innovation' - a strategy paper from June 2011.
Recommendation 13:
Form a Science and Innovation Council,led from a very senior ministerial level in Government, with representatives from the university,public and private research organisations and from industry. Members should represent a wide rangeof science and technology themes, including the social sciences. The role of the Science andInnovation Council should be to establish a national innovation strategy and advise on science andinnovation policy and priorities.
An auspicious mix of private business people, scientists, academics and government, S&Icouncils form a vital part of connecting between commerce, technology, applied science andfundamental science.
These S&I Councils help align a country’s business strengths, its expected futurerequirements, the ‘brains’ being trained up, and the pipelines of new developments needed tostay competitive.
Denmark’s S&I Council for example was a major reason the small Nordic nation went stronglydown the ‘design’ (as an element of all innovation) path.
The other advantage an NZ S&I Council would have is to better engage the broader New Zealandpublic with science. Far too many people (my own children included) see science as a separate‘thing’ that’s done by geeks, something that’s not relevant to their own lives (this ofcourse while remaining totally oblivious to the huge R&D that is their smart phone).
A S&I Council would help address this disconnect. It would make much more visible andrelevant the continuum between science and technology and how our country can and should creategreater wealth from clever products and services.
A S&I Council would also help reassure Prime Minister Bill English that the continuedinvestment in R&D is worthwhile and important. He, like all of us, like to know where’s thepayback? Well, an S&I Council, preferably with him also on it, would help answer thatquestion.
So, go on Mr Goldsmith, give it some decent thought.
(Peter Kerr runs Punchline [messages that matter], as well as What I Wish My Dad Told Me - advice that could beuseful)