Calder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCalder Cam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 03 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13147. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.Dr CAM CALDER (National) to theMinister of Science and Innovation: What progress has been made in the Government’s plan to provide internships for students in New Zealand’s research and development intensive industries?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation): In Budget 2013 the Government provided funding for the research and development student grants scheme to give science technology engineering and design students the opportunity to work with some of New Zealand’s top commercial research and development facilities. Today I am pleased to announce to the House that $3.5 million has been allocated by Callaghan Innovation to successful research and development - active businesses enabling them to employ nearly 300 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The student grants will give New Zealand’s future innovators a head start in their careers by enabling them to develop their technical skills working in a commercial research environment. It will also be beneficial for industry by helping to speed up businesses’ research and development work thanks to the contribution of bright young minds with the latest knowledge and a fresh perspective.Dr Cam Calder: What are some of the projects that have been funded through the student research and development grants scheme?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: High-calibre proposals were submitted by some of our most innovative high-tech companies as well as a great number of ambitious new start-ups. One hundred and fifty companies will benefit from the programme this year. It is great to see those companies recognising the value of innovation and the need to provide career development opportunities for our future innovators. Some of the funded projects include developing a pest control tool kit and applying biodegradable plastics to advanced trapping systems market-driven product development for the health sector and improving road surfaces through the application of novel materials.Dr Cam Calder: What other steps is the Government taking to boost science and innovation in New Zealand?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: This Government recognises that science and innovation are the key drivers of economic growth and are making New Zealand businesses more internationally competitive. We have increased total funding for science innovation and research across government to $1.36 billion in the current financial year after $1.24 billion last year and just over $1 billion 4 years ago. In Budget 2013 we allocated an additional $75 million over 4 years for business research and development grants and $31 million over 4 years for repayable grants for start-up businesses. And of course we have established Callaghan Innovation our new high-tech headquarters for business research and development.Hon Trevor Mallard: Does the funding for the internships include funding for air travel for interns who will work on projects previously done at Ruakura Research Centre or atKiwiStar Optics which are now going to be done in Melbourne and Sydney?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I think the member does not understand the way the research and development student grants work so let me take him through it. The students are working in private sector companies that are already established and operating their own businesses doing research and development. You get a young undergraduate or postgraduate at a university—let us say for example at the University of Auckland’s engineering school—who wants to get out and actually do some work in a business environment before they qualify and before they graduate. They can go along and work at this business and build business relationships and get an understanding of what it is like to work in the real world. I think all of those are great things.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very specific question about whether there would be airfares available for interns to work with companies—KiwiStar Optics being an example—that were previously based—Mr SPEAKER: Order! It sort of was but if the Minister could help by focusing on the essence of the question which was whether the funding includes airfares.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I do not believe that the funding does include airfares and I would point out again to the member that I thought he already understood thatKiwiStar Optics was not a private sector firm in that regard and therefore it answered the question. I think the premise of his question is simply incorrect as well.