IPENZ-Engineers New Zealand Cautiously Welcomes Budget

Budget takes NZ a few steps closer to a knowledge economy

“This year’s budget has the Government heading in the right direction in its targeted expenditure on activities that will assist New Zealand in developing a knowledge economy” says IPENZ CEO Dr. Andrew Cleland.

Some of the Budget announcements will assist New Zealand in developing a strong economy based on the innovative use of science and technology. “The strategic targeting of expenditure for the development of our national innovation system will allow New Zealand to make more use of some of its existing strengths as well as the encouragement of a more collaborative and integrated approach to research led innovation” said Dr Cleland.

Dr. Cleland particularly welcomed the extension of the programme that boosts the skills of teachers of science, mathematics and technology. “Teachers are a critical component in the development of people with science and technology knowledge. We need to “educate the educators” so that the next generation is well educated in these underpinning skills needed to return us to the top ten in the OECD rankings” he said.

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