New Zealand welcomes OECD declaration on science, innovation

The New Zealand government Thursday welcomed a new accord on science and innovation among developed nations.

The Daejeon Declaration on Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for the Global and Digital Age was signed at the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Ministers Meeting on Science and Technology in Daejon, South Korea.

The declaration highlighted the commitment of member countries to utilize science, technology and innovation to foster sustainable economic growth, job creation and enhanced wellbeing, said New Zealand Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce, who attended the meeting.

The declaration was designed to help guide the OECD's future science, technology and innovation work program based on a shared understanding by OECD ministers on the most important policy areas to focus on over the next two to three years.

There were strong parallels between the actions of the declaration and New Zealand's science, technology and innovation policy, Joyce said in a statement from his office.

The theme of the meeting was "Creating our Common Future through Science, Technology and Innovation."

"This was an important opportunity for New Zealand to strengthen our ties with international counterparts, benchmark our innovation strategy against those of other OECD countries, and promote opportunities for international partnerships in science and innovation," Joyce said. Endit