A New Research Investment Process for the HRC
The HRC has embarked on a review and revision of the current annual funding round investment processes, as indicated in the Strategic Plan 2008-2013. This is a vital piece of work, the intention of which is to address issues and concerns with the current investment model.
Key features of the proposed new investment processes include:
- the retention of contestability and peer review;
- the introduction of new contract types;
- a two stage application process for the commonest proposal type; and
- and the removal of current portfolios and prioritisation scoring.
Read the HRC's consultation document – A New Research Investment Process for the HRC PDF 300KB
The Board of the HRC sought feedback from interested parties on the draft of a new health research investment process that is intended to replace the current annual funding round. Health researchers, health research providers and others with an interest in the process of research investment were encouraged to attend presentations to hear the process explained, and have their questions answered.
Interested parties were given the opportunity to provide their feedback to the proposed new Investment Process via an online consultation feedback, which closed on Monday 2 March 2009. The Secretariat will now submit the comments and a summary of themes from the consultation to the HRC Board for their consideration.
The HRC Board will devote a significant part of an extended Board meeting (22 and 23 April 2009) to considering the implications of the feedback, and the next steps in relation to any changes to the current investment process. The summary of themes from the consultation and outcomes of the Board's deliberations will be communicated via the HRC website shortly after the April meeting.
Dr Robin Olds
Chief Executive
Health Research Council of New Zealand
As at 29 April 2009
A copy of the new funding round model presentation is available here (PDF 190KB)
The Board of the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) met on 22-23 April 2009 to consider a revision of the annual funding round investment process. This was the culmination of several months of work that included an extensive consultation on a proposal for a new investment model. Such a review and potential revision was first signalled in the HRC's Strategic Plan 2008-2013.
The Board took into account a variety of factors in their consideration, including a wish to simplify process and reduce transaction costs for the research community, a commitment to support the highest quality health research proposals, and recognition of the importance of support for a broad range of health research. In the lead up to the meeting the Board had the opportunity to review all feedback from the consultation process.
After extensive deliberations, the Board agreed on a new investment model. The model, which incorporates several changes from the original proposal in recognition of issues and suggestions arising from consultation, will be implemented in stages over the next two years.
The major features of the new model are summarised here. Researchers, in particular, will want as much detail and clarity around the new system as soon as possible and a series of documents containing additional information will be prepared for release over the next 4-6 weeks. I will also be visiting the major research providers to explain the new process in detail.
The main features of the new process, applicable to the 2009/10 funding round, are listed below.
1. All documentation relating to the next annual funding round along with the Investment Strategy will be released as usual in August
2009. Research contracts awarded as a result of the 2009/10 annual funding round will be available to start from 1 July 2010. This
represents no change from the current process.
2. Four contract types will be offered, each with funding maxima:
a. Projects: Project contracts will have a budget cap of $400,000 per annum, to a maximum contract price of $1,200,000.
b. Programmes: Programme bids will be stand alone proposals, not requiring pre-funded Projects. Up to $5,000,000 over five years
will be available.
c. Emerging Researcher First Grants: the budget maximum of $150,000 over three years remains, although more of these contracts
will be offered each year.
d. Feasibility Study Grants: remain as now, at up to $150,000 over one year.
3. A 50:50 balance between investment in Projects and Programmes will be retained.
4. Investigators may be named on no more than one funded Programme and three funded Projects.
5. A two-stage application process will be introduced, with the proposal component of the first stage application being no more than
three pages. At the second stage, full applications will be invited to approximately two times the available budget.
6. The 2009/10 funding round will be the last in which the current health research portfolios, research prioritisation process and Science
Assessing Committee assessment processes will apply.
7. In addition, one targeted stream of funding (referred to as a Health Impact Target in the consultation) will be offered. This area,
Research for New Zealand Health Delivery, will have a dedicated budget and an Investment Signal that outlines the scope of research
being sought. More detail will be made available prior to the start of the funding round. In summary, in the 2009/10 round only Project
proposals will be sought. The two stage application process will be used. Assessment at both stages will be carried out by an
extended assessing committee, made up of researchers recommended by each of the Statutory Research Committees and by
appropriate end-users. Assessment criteria will include track record, scientific merit and methodology, alongside a new criterion
reflecting the impact of the proposal and its fit with the Investment Signal.
8. The Grant Advisory Committee will function as now, and will continue to be responsible for making funding recommendations to the
HRC Board. It should be noted that for the Research for New Zealand Health Delivery funding stream, the Grant Advisory Committee
will be constrained by the budget declared by the Board for this area. Impact scoring will be used to establish ranking of proposals
for funding, provided that scoring for science merit/track record/methodology reaches a yet to be determined threshold.
Further changes will be implemented for the 2010/11 annual funding round. Introduction of these changes will be dependent on a review of the processes established in the 2009/10 funding round. Phase two of implementation will include the following:
1. All investment will be through targeted streams of funding. For each area, an Investment Signal will be released annually, describing
the scope of the area, identifying high level research priorities and the available funding. During 2009 and early 2010, the HRC will be
defining the scope of the targeted funding streams and consulting with key stakeholders on these areas. These targeted funding
streams can be thought of as new health research portfolios.
2. Assessment for Project and Programme proposals will use the process introduced in the 2009/10 funding round for the Research for
New Zealand Health Delivery targeted funding stream.
Dr Robin Olds
Chief Executive
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Background to the proposed new research investment process
To read the HRC's consultation document - A New Research Investment Process for the HRC - and the background to the proposed new research investment process, click here.
Last Updated : 09 July 2009 15:48:33.
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