Election 2020: The $ 1.29 Billion National Plan to Double New Zealand’s Tech Sector and Create 100,000 Jobs

National says it has a $ 1.29 billion plan to double New Zealand’s tech sector in a decade and create at least 100,000 new jobs.

It pledges to do this by ensuring that 90 percent of households have unlimited ultra-fast broadband, introducing a fast-track technology skills visa, creating a Ministry of Technology, and offering 1,000 tertiary scholarships a year for science-focused degrees.

National leader Judith Collins said that with some 50,000 kiwis returning home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was time to seize the opportunity from the technology sector. She will speak to the media about politics at 11am.

New Zealand’s technology exports now total $ 8 billion per year, which is equal to our combined forestry and seafood exports and Collins said National would double this to $ 16 billion by 2030.

National’s NZ Tech 2030 Plan includes:

• Establishment of a Minister of Technology
• Offer 1,000 tertiary scholarships a year for students in low-decile schools to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
• Establishment of a collaborative school focused on STEM and restoration of funds for specialized graduate schools in ICT.
• Introduction of a fast track technology skills visa
• Invest $ 1 billion in technology infrastructure upgrades with the goal of achieving unlimited Internet speeds of 100 Mbps for all Internet users.
• Establish three specific investment funds for technology startups worth $ 200 million each, with the cost divided equally between the government and the private sector.
• Develop the “most technology-friendly regulation” in the world.

They would also relax the requirements for investor class visas and offer anyone who completes a full three-year bachelor’s degree or higher-level qualification in technology-related subject areas, and exceeds a specific GPA standard, a path to achievement. automatic permanent residence when they complete their studies. qualification.

And National wants to launch a global PhD scholarship program to recruit 50 STEM PhD candidates from leading universities each year to spend at least six months in New Zealand during their PhD.

National said its plan was expected to cost $ 690 million for the first four years and that infrastructure upgrades over the next six years would cost another $ 600 million, bringing the total cost to $ 1.29 billion.

National said its plan will harness the skills of returning kiwis, diversify New Zealand’s exports and create 100,000 “well-paid and future-proof” jobs.

“National will give Kiwis world-class abilities and they will experience the opportunity to prosper here and help grow our economy, rather than hitting them with higher taxes like Labor will,” Collins said.

“Our technology sector has amazing potential.

“If we attract the right talent and create an environment for growth, it could be bigger than our dairy sector in 10-15 years.”

Collins launched the policy in Auckland today during a visit to Buckley Systems Limited, a Kiwi company that is the world’s leading supplier of precision electromagnets.

Founder Bill Buckley was recently named New Zealand Innovator of the Year for his work developing a boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) device for the treatment of cancer.