New Zealand's researchers will gain access to more European Union (EU) science and technology programmes, thanks to a newly-signed cooperation agreement.

Signed in July, the New Zealand-EU Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement is expected to take effect from the end of this year once it has been ratified by the European Union. New Zealand's Minister of Research Science and Technology, Pete Hodgson, said the agreement would broaden New Zealand's collaboration with the European Union's science community.

"One of the most significant aspects of the agreement is that it will allow New Zealand researchers to be eligible for European Union programmes that wouldn't otherwise be accessible," said Hodgson. "Links to European research are very important for New Zealand as the European Union is investing heavily in research areas critical to our future economic and social development."

But Hodgson indicated Europe would also benefit from the agreement, noting that New Zealand had a recognised reputation in a number of research fields that were of interest to the EU. These included natural resource-based sciences (agriculture, plant and animal science, environmental science), medical, and information and communications technology research.

The new agreement foresees creation of a joint EC-New Zealand Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation which will meet regularly to identify shared research priorities and plan future joint work.

New Zealand's researchers already have strong links with Europe. A 2003 survey by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology revealed that over half the country's researchers were actively involved in collaborative research activities with European partners. In addition, more than 20 teams from New Zealand participated in projects under the Sixth Framework Programme, mostly in the fields of food, agriculture and biotechnology.

But the agreement has already had an impact as its negotiation allowed New Zealand to participate in the EU's International Research Staff Exchange Scheme, which supports collaboration between institutions based in Europe and countries such as New Zealand.

New Zealand has also recently obtained funding under the Seventh Framework Programme to extend support for the FRENZ ('Facilitate research cooperation between Europe and New Zealand') platform, which aims to boost links between researchers from Europe and New Zealand.

The signature of the new cooperation agreement with New Zealand brings the total number of science and technology agreements between the EU and third countries to 33. Negotiations are currently under way for similar agreements with Japan and Jordan.

*John Gerritsen is editor of NZ Education Review.

John.Gerritsen@uw-news.com


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