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Vice-Chancellor Professor Judith Kinnear with Minister
of Research, Science & Technology Pete Hodgson.
Government funding for biotechnology training programme
A $400,000 pilot programme to develop industry training within
the biotechnology sector has been announced by Research, Science and
Technology Minister, Pete Hodgson.
The pilot will be steered
by a team of Massey biotechnology experts, lead by Professor Yusuf
Chisti, working closely with industry
The Minister says the
biotechnology pilot is an excellent example of government, the
tertiary education sector and industry working together to foster
innovation and enterprise in a very important part of our economy.
"Massey University’s team will work directly with industry to
identify and provide specialist training with the specific objective
of strengthening the capabilities of our biotechnology
sector."
Through the pilot, the University will raise the
in-house capability of biotechnology firms by providing high-level,
enterprise-specific, modular workshops. Content will be developed in
consultation with industry and will be focused in four areas:
biotechnology science, processing, regulatory compliance and
business.
“We have already proven that New Zealanders are
world beaters in biotechnology. This initiative will help
consolidate and grow that position. This pilot also underlines the
quality and value of our tertiary education providers, not only in
biotechnology, but to the wider community and our
economy."
The pilot is part of the government's Growth and
Innovation Framework and has been developed in partnership with
Massey University, Palmerston North. It is funded through the
Tertiary Education Commission's contestable funding initiative
announced last year.
It is intended to promote the
development of closer collaborations between tertiary education
organisations and industry so that knowledge and expertise are
shared and training best meets the needs of industry.
Created: 26 July, 2004 |
