Crown Research Institutes to Merge into Three Major Science Groups

The Crown Research Institutes will be integrated as part of significant changes in the research sector.

According to an email acquired by RNZ, the seven CRIs will be combined into three big science organizations known as "Public Research Organisations" (PROs), with a fourth established to focus on "advanced technology."

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was scheduled to make the reforms in his State of the Nation speech at 1 pm.

The adjustments come in response to Sir Peter Gluckman's (SSAG) long-awaited initial report.

The Public Research Organizations will be categorized according to their areas of interest.

Earth Science will see the merger of NIWA and GNS Science, but NIWA's acquisition of MetService will continue as planned.

AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua: Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research, and Scion will combine under Bioeconomy.

ESR will be used to develop the field of health and forensic science.

The modifications will include the establishment of a fourth Public Research Organisation focused on advanced technology.

Callaghan Innovation would be disbanded, and its activities transferred to other organizations.

According to Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Judith Collins, it had been spread too thinly across too many roles, "leading to poor financial performance and an over-reliance on Crown funding."

During a media event, Collins, who will pass over the science portfolio to Shane Reti tomorrow, said the revisions will be the most significant overhaul of New Zealand's science system in over 30 years.

She stated that the adjustments would benefit both the economy and the sector.

"The reform will maximize the value of the $1.2 billion of taxpayer money that we already put into the science sector each year, creating a much more dynamic science innovation and tech system."

She also mentioned the government's intention to lift New Zealand's "effective 30-year ban" on gene technology.

"This will open up great potential for our science sectors as well as New Zealanders, whether in the primary industries sector or the health sector, and it will also help us with climate change challenges.

"So, this government sees science, innovation, and technology as a vehicle to improve the economy and harness our country so that we can pay for all that all New Zealanders desire.

"The changes announced today are extensive but will ensure a system that generates maximum value for the economy and, therefore, for all New Zealanders."

She stated that the existing Crown Research Institute chair people had already discussed staffing and cutbacks and supported the idea.

"They knew they'd have to right-size and that change was on the way, so all of the Crown Research Institute chairs support what we're doing.

"They're excited about this."

She stated that the government rejected the science system advisory group's request to unite all CRIs into one organization.

"Because we know that people like to have a bit of competition, they like to be able to benchmark themselves against others, and we think it's a much better opportunity for them to be able to work together and to get some of that right-sizing."