The accurate and consistent recording of detailed R&D survey data (unit record fi les) began in 1994 and has continued until the present day. However, during this period, several methodological changes have resulted in non-comparable statistics. Changes to the methodology in recent years has resulted in very large reported increases in the amount of R&D performed in New Zealand – particularly in the private sector.
In response to a call from policy makers to provide a comparable time series of R&D in NewZealand, MoRST began work to develop a methodology that would enable real change across the time series to be measured.
The creation of a document detailing the changes in R&D in New Zealand from 1994 to 2004 has several purposes. The comparable measurement of R&D allows policy makers and the R&D sector to understand change within the system over the past 10 years.
This report provides comparable information for all sectors of the New Zealand science system, and provides detail not previously released in the biennial R&D publications. Specifi cally, business enterprise R&D is discussed in detail, with results for the primary, manufacturing, scientifi c research and other services industries shown separately over time. R&D performed by Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), which was previously reported as a part of government R&D, is also discussed in detail. In addition, we have individually identifi ed the contributions made by each of the CRIs and universities.