Technology value slips under radar

Research, science and technology create almost 2500 jobs in Palmerston North, and produce $312 million each year.

The Palmerston North City council has released a profile of the sector. The council estimates $204m was spent on research and development in Palmerston North in 2008, about 10 per cent of the national spend.

The figures do not surprise Massey University assistant vice chancellor research Professor Nigel Long, who agreed the sector had slipped under the radar.

"A lot of people out there don't realise how research intensive Palmerston North is ... The public is not very discerning in identifying the different research strategies."

Much of the work done by Massey and AgResearch was not local and therefore was not noticeable to people in Manawatu, he said.

"A lot of people think universities just do teaching."

The university has about 60 research centres, he said.

"Only the major ones are well known outside the university sector ... These are some of the best-kept secrets of Palmerston North."

The profile estimates the sector was responsible for 2360 jobs in 2008, 5.1 per cent of the total jobs in the city.

On top of this there were an estimated 845 full time equivalent post-graduate research students at Massey University.

The $312m estimated economic impact on the city was calculated using a model developed by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. It takes into account jobs created in other sectors through increases in retail spending.

The per head of population spend on research and development in Manawatu was second only to Otago.

Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor said the sector profile showed the breadth of research activity being undertaken in the city.

"I knew [the sector] was big and I knew it was significant but what this report has shown is it's a lot more significant than we've imagined."

- © Fairfax NZ News