Australia and New Zealand will work together to tackle chronic disease, advance general health care and improve the accuracy and availability of GPS signals as part of their commitment to increase collaboration on research and innovation.
Australia’s Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, and the New Zealand Minister for Economic Development, Transport and Communications, Simon Bridges, signed a treaty-level Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement at the Australia New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting in Queenstown on February 17 2017.
This is the first treaty of its kind between the two countries. It formalises what has been a naturally close and enduring partnership. More importantly, it recognises the immense economic and social potential that merging both countries’ efforts and resources can bring to the region.
The creation of an innovation hub will have tremendous benefits for both communities, growing the economy and creating business opportunities and jobs in new and traditional sectors.
This flagship agreement signifies the strong alignment of both nations’ economic and strategic interests and is essential to the Single Economic Market agenda.
Both countries have felt the challenges of industry transition and recognise the need to adjust and adapt. Science, research and innovation are crucial to achieving shared goals and ambitions.
This Agreement concludes a year of intense negotiations. It recognises the strength of both nations’ relationship and the advantages of sharing their resources, assets and knowledge.
The Square Kilometre Array project is a prime example of working together, as part of a 10-country collaboration to build the world’s largest and most advanced radio telescope. Both countries will also trialling the Satellite Base Augmentation System.
2017 marks the beginning of a new phase in Australia and New Zealand’s partnership. The Agreement provides the framework for both to work together to create commercial opportunities and improve the lives of people.