TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE MARSDEN FUND 2003/2004

MARSDEN FUND

Nature of the Marsden Fund

The Marsden Fund has been established to support excellent research and researchers. The Marsden Fund will thus enhance the underpinning knowledge base in New Zealand, and broaden and deepen the research skill-base in New Zealand. Research funded from the Marsden Fund is not subject to priorities set by the government. This does not preclude the funding of excellent research that might also have a utilitarian outcome and produce benefits for New Zealand.

In supporting excellent investigator initiated research , the government is ensuring that New Zealand is contributing to, and benefiting from, the advancement of knowledge globally, and is fostering a diversity of research activities of the highest calibre. The Marsden Fund also provides for long-term and the sometimes serendipitous aspects of research, which may lead to profound or unexpected discoveries, or catalyse significant developments in previously-unrelated and strategically-important fields of knowledge.

Objectives

The objectives of the Marsden Fund are to:

• enhance the underpinning knowledge-base in New Zealand, and contribute to the global advancement of knowledge;
• broaden and deepen the research skill-base in New Zealand; and
• enhance the quality of the research environment in New Zealand by creating increased opportunity to undertake excellent investigator-initiated research

Access to the Fund
The Marsden Fund is to be operated as a fully contestable fund. Thus proposals for research will be sought and proposals selected and funded on the basis of an open and contestable process.
Eligibility to bid to the fund is unrestricted provided that the research proposed is either to be carried out in New Zealand or, if its nature demands that it be carried out elsewhere, by New Zealand-based researchers.

Types of Proposals Supported
Funds will be allocated for the support of research projects or programmes, or for the support of individual researchers, including post-doctoral fellows. Funds may also be used to provide scholarships to support work by post-graduate scholars towards a doctorate, but such work should be designed as part of a larger programme of work which conforms with the criteria for the scheme.

All proposals funded must:

• comply with the terms and process of the voluntary moratorium on all applications for release and (with limited exceptions) field testing of genetically modified organisms; and
• be consistent with the nature and objectives of the Marsden Fund and the criteria set out below.

Attention is to be given to supporting both major programmes of research of substantial significance involving teams of researchers, and of individual researchers.

Costing and Funding of Proposals
All proposals put forward must be fully costed. Full costing shall include direct costs, associated personnel costs and an appropriate share of overhead costs such as institutional administration and depreciation of capital assets and buildings. Funds will be awarded to cover the full cost of new proposals. The Council shall have the discretion to offer to fund, at full cost, a smaller project than the one proposed.

The Council may require applicants to identify complementary and collaborative projects related to their proposal to the Marsden Fund, including the full cost and sources of funding for such projects. Complementary purchases at full cost may take place, but shared funding in the form of one party paying direct costs and the other indirect costs will not be permitted.

In deciding on the size of projects to be fully funded from the Marsden Fund, consideration may be given to the extent to which complementary work should be fully funded by sources of Crown funding other than the Marsden Fund.

Selection Criteria
Each proposal is to be judged against the following key criteria

KEY CRITERIA:

(a) merit of the proposal, including originality, insight and rigour;
(b) potential of the researchers to contribute to the advancement of knowledge;
(c) contribution to development or broadening of research skills in New Zealand, particularly those of emerging researchers.

Primary consideration is to be given to the above key criteria. Secondary consideration may then be given to the cost of proposals.

DISBURSEMENT OF THE MARSDEN FUND

In disbursing the Marsden Fund, the Royal Society of New Zealand is acting as an agent of the Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

The Marsden Fund shall be held in trust by the Royal Society of New Zealand, and shall be disbursed according to these terms of reference. Any interest earned on Marsden Fund monies shall be accrued to the Marsden Fund and not used for any other purpose. Advice as to how the funding shall be allocated will be sought from a Council called the Marsden Fund Council. The advice of the Marsden Fund Council on funding allocations shall normally be accepted by the Royal Society.

In the event that advice on any funding allocation is not accepted by the Royal Society, the Royal Society shall immediately notify the Minister, in writing, that a disagreement has occurred and the reasons for non acceptance of the advice. The Royal Society shall then commission a review panel to review the Council's advice. Panel representatives shall include Ministerial, Royal Society and Marsden Fund Council nominee(s). The Royal Society shall seek the Minister's approval of the final review panel and its terms of reference. The Royal Society shall have the final decision as to its acceptance or not of the review panel's decision to accept or reject the recommendation of the Marsden Fund Council. The results of the review shall be made known to all parties.

MARSDEN FUND COUNCIL

Membership
There shall be established a Council to be known as the Marsden Fund Council. The Marsden Fund Council shall comprise up to 10 eminent researchers spanning the range of disciplines. Members of the Marsden Fund Council shall be appointed by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology, with individual members appointed for terms and under such conditions as determined by the Minister from time to time. In making appointments and setting terms and conditions of membership, the Minister shall seek the advice of the Royal Society of New Zealand, existing members of the Marsden Fund Council and others in the research community.

Functions
The functions of the Marsden Fund Council shall be to:

1. provide advice to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology on those policies and procedures considered by the Council to be appropriate and necessary to the implementation of the terms of reference for the Marsden Fund;
2. recommend to the Royal Society of New Zealand each year those proposals to the Marsden Fund which should be funded and the level of funding to be awarded; and
3. monitor the progress of research and researchers funded by the Marsden Fund.

Other requirements
In carrying out its functions the Marsden Fund Council shall meet the following requirements:

1. The policies and procedures used by the Marsden Fund Council in carrying out its functions shall be in accordance with the terms of reference, or any extensions or changes to this terms of reference authorised by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology. However, such policies and procedures shall specifically exclude any direction from the Minister as to the funding or not of individual proposals.
2. The Marsden Fund Council may adopt such additional policies and procedures as it considers to be necessary to the carrying out of its functions, but those policies and procedures must be consistent with those set down by the Minister.
3. The policies and procedures implemented by the Marsden Fund Council shall be made known to all those individuals and institutions making proposals to the Marsden Fund Council, and to the Royal Society and to the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. The Marsden Fund Council shall consistently and fairly implement its policies and procedures until or unless variations are similarly made widely known.
4. All proposals will be treated in a fair, equitable and consistent fashion.
5. Communication between the Marsden Fund Council and unsuccessful applicants to the fund shall meet reasonable expectations of feedback In documenting its policies and procedures for the information of applicants, the Marsden Fund Council shall set out what it regards as "reasonable expectations" regarding feedback.

The Marsden Fund Council members will not be personally liable for acts or defaults done or omitted in good faith in the exercise or intended exercise of functions under these terms of reference.

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE MARSDEN FUND COUNCIL

Executive support for the Marsden Fund Council shall be provided by the Royal Society of New Zealand, pursuant to a contract negotiated between the Minister and the Royal Society which shall specify both the range of services to be provided and the price for those services. Of the funding provided for administration, an amount shall be identified as being for the purpose of meeting the direct expenses of the Council.

The Marsden Fund Council shall be entitled to require services from the Royal Society in accordance with the contract, and shall communicate directly with a nominated employee of the Royal Society whose function is to provide support for the Council, for that purpose.

FUNDING FOR ALLOCATION

Funds available for allocation each year shall be formally advised to the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Marsden Fund Council by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology subsequent to the presentation to Parliament of the Estimates of Appropriations for that year and no irrevocable contracted commitments should be made prior to that advice being received. However, guidelines as to the likely level of funding shall be advised to the Royal Society and the Marsden Fund Council by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology from time to time, to assist the smooth running of the Marsden Fund.

MONITORING

The management of the Marsden Fund incorporating the requirements of this terms of reference will be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. The Royal Society and the Marsden Fund Council will make provision for the collection of information required by the Ministry in carrying out its monitoring role.