New Zealand Research Information System Update
Issue # 8

25 May 2020

Welcome to the latest NZRIS newsletter. We’re excited to share news of the new COVID-19 research database that we’re coordinating on behalf of the sector and provide you with an update on the NZRIS programme.

We hope everyone is keeping well now we’re in Level 2 and starting to adjust to a new normal.

As always, we’re available any time at nzris@mbie.govt.nz for any questions you might have.

The COVID-19 research database – please contribute!

A new COVID-19 research database coordinated by the NZRIS team is available for anyone to access on the MBIE website.

COVID-19 research database - MBIE website

The NZRIS team has taken on responsibility for coordinating this database on behalf of the research, science and innovation sector, as a way to help build connections, foster collaboration and share ideas throughout the COVID-19 response and recovery process.

Right now the database contains information about more than 140 research projects in a wide range of areas. Our research community are leading projects that are directly focussed on the public health aspects of the pandemic – for example, the development of vaccines and other treatments. A number of projects are looking at the social and economic affects the pandemic is having on New Zealand and its people. We are now starting to include data on funding provided to support research projects from organisations including MBIE and the Auckland Medical Research Centre.

The initial database was developed and supported by Universities New Zealand, with support from researchers, research organisations, research funders such as the Health Research Council, and key government agencies such as the Ministry of Health and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. It’s now being coordinated within the NZRIS programme so that once NZRIS is up and running, data from the COVID-19 research database can be incorporated into the wider system.

Bronwen Kelly, Universities New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive, says the reason Universities New Zealand created the original database was to make sure that everyone working in the COVID-19 research arena knew what everyone else was doing.

“It’s already proved to be a very valuable resource in the fight against COVID-19 and it makes sense that the NZRIS team now manages it within the scope of their wider work. The database is there to encourage collaboration and sharing of knowledge by connecting researchers all over the country to one another, to government officials and district health boards. I encourage all researchers and organisations who are working in this space to get in touch with the NZRIS team to make sure their work is included,” she says.

The database is continuing to grow. In the past week we have added 22 new records and three updated records. If you’re a researcher working on COVID-related research or an organisation that is funding this research, please get in touch with us at nzris@mbie.govt.nz and we’ll work with you to get your data into the system.

We’ll also post regular updates through this NZRIS newsletter about the data we’re collecting and how it’s growing and changing, so make sure you subscribe to stay in the loop.

NZRIS update

Work has not stopped on the NZRIS system build despite the COVID-19 lockdown. The build of the ICT system continues with testing of the Custodian App (the system that data providers will use to submit their data) near completion. We’ve also trialled some submissions of data from our early data providers, and they’ve gone well!

We’re continuing to work closely with our early data providers to ensure the system works well for them, and we’re also planning further meetings of our Funder-Researcher Working Group which represents the wider sector.

Our NZRIS Stewardship and Oversight Group will meet virtually, and as part of this we’ll be looking at our approach to Māori Data Sovereignty, including the storage of the data and how NZRIS can work best for the Māori research community.