Siac to tackle education and 'digital divide'

By DANIEL RIORDAN

The Prime Minister's think-tank, the Science and Innovation Advisory Council, has quickly identified areas of real need for the economy.

Chairman Rick Christie said the nine-member group spent half a day receiving "punchy" presentations from key Government and private sector organisations, and half a day identifying key issues and how it would go about addressing them.

The council finished the day by reporting to Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Mr Christie said one of the council's key aims was to develop a vision and strategy for the economy and society, something that has been lacking.

"There are some elements of a strategy out there, some of them working quite well, but no overall approach we've been able to identify."

Education is one area the council is keen to focus on, and it is seeking advice from educators and the ministry.

Tackling the "digital divide" - the gap between those who can afford computers and participation in cyberspace and those who cannot - was just as crucial, said Mr Christie.

The council was also keen to better identify the role of science in business and ensure business was fully aware of the range of technologies available to it.

He said the council expected to have a comprehensive overview within a couple of months and then press on from there. Policy ideas would follow, and these would be offered to the Prime Minister, business and the general public.

The council would not follow a long and formal process of seeking submissions on its ideas, said Mr Christie, but would rather seek feedback from key individuals and organisations.

"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel. A lot of things that need to be done are already very obvious. We need to quantify them and move as quickly as we can into definite strategies."

The council's next meeting is on August 9, although members confer informally all the time.

The Prime Minister established the council a month ago to help steer New Zealand's progress towards a knowledge economy.

Its members, besides Mr Christie, chief executive of investment company Rangatira and deputy chairman of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, are John Blackham, managing director of software developer Xsol; Vicki Buck, development adviser to Christchurch Polytechnic and a former Mayor of Christchurch; Kate Frykberg, managing director of internet company The Web; Donna Hiser, chief executive of information consultancy Innovus; Michael Matthews, chief executive of Tatua Dairy Co; Stephen Tindall, managing director of The Warehouse; electronics pioneer Sir Angus Tait; and Michael Walker, senior lecturer at Auckland University's School of Biological Sciences and a leading Maori scientist. Most also belong to business and scientific umbrella groups.