Sir Paul Callaghan (Alan MacDiarmid Professor of Physical Sciences Victoria University of Wellington) on Strategy for economic growth via the knowledge economy 100 companies, 100 inspired entrepreneurs

Sir Paul Callaghan recently at the Unitec-Falkenstein professional development sessions for secondary school business teachers (Wellington) presented his strategy for economic growth (via the knowledge economy: 100 companies, 100 inspired entrepreneurs). Here are the short bites of the summary slide taken directly from his presentation with permission.

Whole of government commitment to strategy: “A country where talent wants to live”

Commitment to education

1. Tell the stories of the job opportunities for New Zealand kids at home  (Get the kids and teachers visiting the smart businesses)
2. Significantly boost science and mathematics education in schools
3. Build school programmes in entrepreneurship
4. Boost university engineering and science capability
5. Refine PBRF to reward commercialisation work

Commitment to R and D

1. Boost science and engineering research from 0.52% GDP to 0.70% GDP (a mere $300 million)
2. Enhance R and D credits to the knowledge sector
3. Compel CRIs to give IP share of benefit to employees and allow employee spinout
4. Help establish incubators, business/engineering/science synergy

Commitment to Branding

1. Understand the value of the conservation estate, liveable cities, quality of life
2. Identify and “call out” phony environmentalism and “science-phobia”
3. Market NZ as the “smart country, a place where talent wants to live”

Commitment to Leadership and vision

1. Bipartisan approach
2. Evidence basis for decisions-understand what works for us