One of the nation's highest-profile scientists, Paul Callaghan, of Victoria University, says today's budget was "extremely disappointing" for science and technology. Professor Callaghan, the Alan MacDiarmid Pro
fessor of Physical Sciences, said that overall investment in research and development had been increased by a mere $28 million, "even if we ignore the loss of the research and development tax credit and Fast Forward". The National Government ditched a 15c in the dollar research and development tax credit and scrapped Labour's promised Fast Forward Fund aimed at promoting research to help food and farming. Fast Forward would have invested $700 million with matching contributions from industries to create a $2 billion fund over 10 to 15 years. The Government has given an extra $40 million over four years to a "capability fund" for state science companies, $36m over four years to the "blue skies research" Marsden Fund, $32m over four years for health research, $4m over four years for prizes in a Prime Minister's Science competition, and a $16m capital injection in 2011 for a high-speed internet link used by researchers.
fessor of Physical Sciences, said that overall investment in research and development had been increased by a mere $28 million, "even if we ignore the loss of the research and development tax credit and Fast Forward". The National Government ditched a 15c in the dollar research and development tax credit and scrapped Labour's promised Fast Forward Fund aimed at promoting research to help food and farming. Fast Forward would have invested $700 million with matching contributions from industries to create a $2 billion fund over 10 to 15 years. The Government has given an extra $40 million over four years to a "capability fund" for state science companies, $36m over four years to the "blue skies research" Marsden Fund, $32m over four years for health research, $4m over four years for prizes in a Prime Minister's Science competition, and a $16m capital injection in 2011 for a high-speed internet link used by researchers.For further details visit at www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/58569/science-spending-seen-timid
