Introduction

1.  This submission provides an update on New Zealand's most recent detailed report (document IP/C/R/TTI/NZL/2), submitted in September 2022, consistent with commitments made under Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. These commitments contribute to the promotion and encouragement of technology transfer to least developed countries (LDCs), with a view to enabling a sound and viable technological base.

2.  Technology transfer is interpreted in this report broadly to include training, education and 'know‑how', along with any capital component, and include four key modes of technology transfer:

·         physical objects or equipment;

·         skills and human aspects of technology management and learning;

·         designs and blueprints which constitute the document-embodied knowledge on information and technology; and

·         production arrangement linkages within which technology is operated.

3.  New Zealand encourages and appreciates the interest that LDC Members have in learning more about the value and outcomes of our technology transfer programmes. We have also included a table of specific examples of technology transfer to LDCs, in response to a request from LDCs for a more standardised format of reporting.

1  OVERVIEW OF INCENTIVES, TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE MODES OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

4.  Aotearoa New Zealand encourages technology transfer to LDCs through various methods, including through the promotion of an economic environment that enables Aotearoa New Zealand enterprises and institutions to transfer technology abroad; encouraging global trade in goods, services and labour mobility, facilitating a strong intellectual property environment and through various bilateral and regional development programmes. We also encourage LDCs to adopt the most relevant and cost-effective technology available on the global market.

5.  Aotearoa New Zealand's engagement with LDCs on technology transfer occurs predominantly through Aotearoa New Zealand's International Development Cooperation (IDC) Programme, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).  We see technology transfer as fundamental to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction in developing countries, through the investment of money, knowledge and skills. Aotearoa New Zealand's International Development Cooperation funding has steadily grown in recent years. As at September 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand's IDC Programme budget for the three-year period July 2021 – June 2024 is NZD 3,012.46 million. In particular, we have committed to a major increase in our climate-focused funding: in 2021, the New Zealand Government announced a climate-focused funding commitment of NZD 1.3 billion over the four-year period 2022 – 2025, with NZD 800 million being new and additional finance. This represents a fourfold increase to our 2019-2022 commitment. This finance will be used to support developing countries to reduce their emissions and protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure from the impacts of climate change. Of this commitment, at least half will be directed to the Pacific region, and at least half will go towards climate adaptation. In August 2022, the New Zealand Government published its international climate finance strategy, Tuia te Waka a Kiwa, which will guide the implementation of this climate finance commitment.

6.  The 2019 International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development (ICESD) Policy Statement articulates the strategic direction for Aotearoa New Zealand's IDC. The purpose of our IDC is to contribute to a more peaceful world, in which all people live in dignity and safety, all countries can prosper, and our shared environment is protected. New Zealand supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is committed to the values we want to see prevail in the world, including human rights, good governance and democracy; gender equality and women's empowerment; sound stewardship of the environment and climate; prevention and peaceful resolution of conflict; and the importance of international cooperation.

7.  Our IDC priorities are dependent on individual country needs to support sustainable development, and can be broadly framed through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) pillars of:

·       People — health, education, scholarships, human rights, and inclusive development targeting women and youth, and humanitarian action;

·       Planet — climate change, renewable energy, resilience, environment, and oceans;

·       Prosperity — economic governance, information and communication technology, agriculture, trade, labour mobility and employment; and

·       Peace — effective governance, peacebuilding, security, and preventing violence.

8.  Guided by these policy settings, the Ministry will continue to deliver 60% of our overall IDC funding in the Pacific. Aotearoa New Zealand's engagement in the Pacific is driven by our strong Pacific identity and interconnectedness with the region, coupled with the direct impact the Pacific's stability and prosperity has on Aotearoa New Zealand's national interests.

9.  Beyond the Pacific, Aotearoa New Zealand's IDC Programme prioritises Timor-Leste and South East Asia, and takes a targeted approach to the rest of Asia, Africa and Latin America. In these regions, we focus our development cooperation on addressing climate change, peacebuilding, effective governance, and achieving a resilient global economy.

10.  The LDCs who are WTO Members or Observers with which Aotearoa New Zealand has bilateral or targeted regional programmes, discussed in this report, are: Solomon Islands, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

2  ODA ACTIVITIES PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO LDCs^[1]

2.1  EXAMPLES OF BILATERAL PROGRAMMES WITH LDCs

11.  As the Aotearoa New Zealand IDC Programme evolves over time, different elements of technology transfer will feature. The following are some current examples from bilateral programmes with a number of LDC WTO Member countries.

2.1.2  Myanmar

12.  Plant and Food Research, an Aotearoa New Zealand Crown Research Institute, is partnering with Proximity Design, a Myanmar Social Enterprise, in a six year (2019-2025) NZD 7.9 million project to improve the productivity, incomes and resilience of smallholder vegetable farmers and reduce post-harvest losses. Proximity Design's capability in horticulture has been built through training and support in fertiliser and pesticide management and irrigation products.

2.1.3  Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

13.  The NZD 11.8 million Lao People's Democratic Republic (90%) and Cambodia (10%) Renewable Energy Facility provided hydro dam safety training to 288 Government of Lao PDR staff and technical renewable energy English language training to 82 key government officials. Aotearoa New Zealand Technical Advisers supported the Government of Lao PDR to update the national energy efficiency roadmap and complemented this with energy efficiency training for 144 government and private sector staff.

14.  The NZD 11 million unexploded ordnance programme (UXO) Lao Activity cleared 638 hectares of contaminated land in Xieng Khouang Province in 2021 and an additional 431 hectares as of July 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2021, the Aotearoa New Zealand Technical Advisor delivered one training course for 21 UXO Lao staff on the operation of new equipment. The New Zealand Technical Adviser provided support to the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR to develop national courses for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EDO), and a trauma medic course. An EDO course was conducted for all UXO Lao provinces in June 2022.

2.1.4  Cambodia

15.  Through the NZD 6.9 million Cambodia Quality Horticulture Activity, Aotearoa New Zealand experts have supported the Cambodia General Directorate of Agriculture to become a fully functional Cambodia Good Agricultural Practices (CamGAP) certification body and it has effectively certified 309 farms. Four agribusiness and social enterprises project partners have also been supported to finalise their internal control systems for managing GAP-aligned production from their supplying farmers.

2.1.5  Zambia

16.  The seven year, NZD $7.4 million Zambia Dairy Activity is strengthening emerging dairy value chains through knowledge transfer on animal health and dairy business practices. Approximately 600 participating farmers have experienced improved yields, reduced costs of production and increased profits. Since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the programme has also been particularly adept at shifting to virtual platforms to share information and build capacity across the sector, with the programme's informational material, videos and newsletters via email and WhatsApp groups, reaching approximately 1,200 recipients.

17.  To widen impact, the programme has had a NZD 1.5million extension to the end of 2023 to focus on industry and community engagement activities. In 2022, outreach was increased to 20 dairy cooperatives with 2,194 active members, over 330 dairy farmers were introduced to ZDTP best practices at agricultural shows, and training was undertaken with 31 Extension Officers (EOs) each with a catchment area of hundreds of farmers.

2.2  EXAMPLES FROM REGIONAL PROGRAMMES

18.  Aotearoa New Zealand provides LDCs with technology transfer and assistance to encourage investment through various regional assistance programmes. In some cases it is difficult to separate expenditure specifically provided to LDC Members, although it is clear that LDC Members within these regions benefit from these programmes.

2.2.1  Pacific Economic and Trade-related Activities

19.  Sound economic management and appropriate policies are critical to encourage technology transfer, trade, and investment. The Aotearoa New Zealand International Development Cooperation Programme provides funding to various regional organisations that provide economic advice, capacity building, or support the development of trade or investment:

·       The Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) supports Pacific island countries to improve economic management through the provision of technical advice and practical support in public financial management, tax administration, macroeconomic management, and national accounts, and in coordinating donor efforts in these areas. New Zealand has committed NZD 6 million for the current five-year cycle of PFTAC through to April 2028;

·       The Pacific Trade & Invest (PTI) office in Auckland aims to enhance trade, investment and tourism opportunities for Pacific Island businesses. Aotearoa New Zealand contributes NZD 1.1 million per year to the operation of PTI;

·       Aotearoa New Zealand has committed NZD 17 million to establish InvestPacific, a NZD 50 million blended finance fund to mobilise private investment in 12 Pacific island countries, including Solomon Islands. In addition to a potential NZD 10 million capital contribution, Aotearoa New Zealand's commitment includes NZD 5 million for a technical assistance facility to support investment pipeline development and post-transaction support. A fund manager was appointed in June 2023 and formal launch of the fund is expected by mid-2024.

2.2.2  ICT sector

20.  Aotearoa New Zealand also funds a broad range of initiatives in the ICT sector across the Pacific region, aimed at improving connectivity for communities that are underserved, and enhancing digital services for citizens and businesses. Examples of these initiatives include:

• ·         Investment of approximately NZD 42 million into submarine cables in Polynesia to improve connectivity, strengthen resilience and redundancy, improve access and reduce costs. A further NZD 7.4 million has been invested to provide technical assistance and capacity building.
• ·         Funding of NZD 5.6 million to the University of the South Pacific to upgrade its academic campus network over 14 countries in the region, to improve education and training outcomes through the provision of enhanced digital education platforms;
• ·         Commitment of NZD 10 million over 2019-2025 provide cybersecurity capacity-building support to Pacific countries, with projects across strategy and governance, information security, cyber safety and cybercrime.
• ·         Funding NZD 6 million to the United Nations joint initiative Pacific Digital Economy Programme. This is a market development programme that aims to develop inclusive digital economy ecosystems in the Pacific that allow women, rural communities, MSMEs and seasonal workers to enhance market participation and improve accessibility to these services.
• ·         Providing NZD 4.4 million to fund the mSupply Foundation to strengthen pharmaceutical management systems in Polynesian countries so they provide accurate, up to date data for stock management and reporting, are supported towards sustainability of their pharmaceutical systems, and procuring quality essential medicines predictably and cost-effectively.
• ·         Providing NZD 5.7 million to deliver an E-learning for Science activity to provide digital tools for Year 10 teachers in four Pacific countries (Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Cook Islands,) to deliver locally-relevant science content to 30 June 2024.

2.2.3  Business Development

21.  Aotearoa New Zealand has committed NZD 26.2 million over five years (2022-2027) for Business Link Pacific Phase II (BLP) to support SME development in 12 Pacific Island countries by facilitating access to quality, local business advice and finance. During the reporting period, BLP supported 382 businesses (including 259 women-led businesses) employing 3,036 people (including 1266 women employees) through NZD 2.3 million in grants, NZD 0.8 million in concessional loans, and NZD 0.6 million in business advisory services, with NZD 5 million in additional investment reported by SMEs since receiving a BLP grant. In Solomon Islands, BLP assisted 47 businesses (including 34 women-led businesses) employing 445 people (including 181 women employees) with NZD 296,682 in grants, NZD 360,930 in concessional loans, and NZD 74,401 in business advisory services, and SMEs reporting NZD 411,840 in additional investment since receiving a BLP grant.

2.2.4  Broadcasting

22.  MFAT fully funds Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd (PCBL), the parent company for Pasifika TV, for NZD 3 million per year. As well as providing 24/7 free content to contracted broadcasters (currently 21 broadcasters in 15 countries), PCBL also provides training in journalism, editing, and business management. The funding arrangement includes the provision of high definition digital decoders, mojo units (filming) and laptops. These collectively provide the capability for real-time filming, editing and broadcasting on the stream through the central hub in Auckland, operated in conjunction with Māori TV, increasing the Pacific-generated content on the channel.

2.2.5  Pacific Regional Agency Activities

23.  Aotearoa New Zealand provides core financial support to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) (NZD 10.35 million over five years 2020-2024). SPREP provides technical advice, programme support and capacity building assistance to Pacific island countries and territories in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management, climate change, ocean acidification, waste management and pollution control, and environmental monitoring and governance, and accordingly promotes the transfer of knowledge into the region.

24.  Aotearoa New Zealand provides core support of NZD 9 million per year to The Pacific Community (SPC) which is the Pacific's leading science and technical agency, with a regional mandate across multiple sectors including agriculture, public health, education quality, coastal fisheries, energy, disaster management, human rights, gender and youth, and statistics. It promotes technology transfer into the region in these areas. The Pacific Multi-sector Response to Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Activity, delivered by SPC, is supporting improved multisector responses to non-communicable diseases through provision of regulatory, legislative and policy technical support. In the Solomon Islands, this activity supported the development of a multisector NCD plan.

25.  Aotearoa New Zealand provides core support of NZD 4.6 million per year to the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), which assists Pacific countries to cooperate to manage their tuna fisheries, and to maximise the economic and social benefits of this resource. This includes building national capacity and technology transfer in the areas of fisheries management, compliance and legal frameworks.

2.2.6  Climate Change Programme

26.  Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to delivering at least NZD 300 million in climate-related support from 2019 to 2022, at least two thirds of which befitted the Pacific and at least half of which was focused on adaptation. For this period, Aotearoa New Zealand continued the implementation of a dedicated climate change programme supporting Pacific countries to lead their climate change response. The programme provided NZD 150 million over four years in bilateral, regional and multilateral funding, including support for the Pacific Climate Change Centre, working with Australian counterparts on the Climate and Ocean Support Programme, and strengthening water security in low-lying countries. The 2019-2022 commitment was met in July 2021 and was exceeded by the end of the commitment period. By December 2022, a total of NZD $486 million was spent on climate finance. In 2021, the New Zealand Government announced a further climate-focused funding commitment of NZD 1.3 billion over the four-year period 2022 – 2025.

27.  Aotearoa New Zealand funds a broad range of initiatives which aim to support low-emissions climate‑resilient development, improve access to science and information to support Pacific Island countries' decision-making, improve water security and strengthen ecosystems, increase access to renewable energy, and support both economic and climate resilience. Examples of these initiatives include:

• ·         Following piloting of the Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience in Samoa and Vanuatu, Aotearoa New Zealand worked with partners in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific to further develop the tool, supporting PICS to model the effects of natural hazards, such as tropical cyclones and droughts, to forecast damage to people and infrastructure. This information was used to inform short-term (e.g. disaster response) and long term (e.g. land-use) planning to reduce potential losses;
• ·         A suite of renewable energy initiatives across a range of Pacific countries such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Tokelau and the North Pacific has seen these countries make significant progress towards achieving their ambitious renewable energy targets. New Zealand also progressed a number of renewable energy initiatives in South East Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean

2.2.7  Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme

28.  The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme enables Aotearoa New Zealand employers in the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit migrant seasonal workers, primarily from the Pacific.  The purpose of the scheme is to provide Aotearoa New Zealand employers with a reliable source of seasonal labour and to provide Pacific workers with income and employment opportunities. While RSE workers are in Aotearoa New Zealand they also have the opportunity to up-skill and undertake a variety of training courses.

29.  Since 2007, 120,000 workers have arrived in New Zealand under the scheme. Of that, 9,100 RSE workers have arrived from LDCs in the Pacific (Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu). Workers involved in the scheme have improved their literacy, numeracy and communication skills, which also led to skills sharing between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.

30.  The Aotearoa New Zealand IDC Programme provides significant financial support to facilitate:

• ·       A training programme for RSE workers in English language, financial literacy and life skills, as well as more advanced training, for example, in basic trades, small business, nutrition and hospitality, and leadership. The programme has provided training to over 13,000 workers over ten years (2012 – 2022); and
• ·       Technical assistance delivered by the Aotearoa New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to build the capacity of Pacific governments to recruit and manage the supply of labour for New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industries under the RSE scheme.

2.2.8  Africa Geothermal Facility

31.  The New Zealand – Africa Geothermal Facility (NZ-AGF) is a NZD 10.2 million partnership with the African Union Commission. Since FY2017/18 it has provided geothermal technical assistance to support the development of the geothermal sector in East African countries. It is open to 11 eligible countries including ten LDCs -  Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In this reporting period since June 2020, three NZ-AGF technical assistance projects have supported LDC partners. Under a multi-country geothermal drilling support project, capacity building support has reached 95 individuals across Djibouti, Tanzania and Ethiopia, helping partners plan and progress geothermal exploration drilling. A separate project under the NZ-AGF has supported two LDC partners prepare applications to the Africa Union's Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF), for grant funding to support geothermal exploration efforts. In this reporting period through Round 6 and 7 of the GRMF, the NZ-AGF supported submission of five applications to the GRMF, working with Tanzania (1) and Djibouti (4). Under the third NZ-AGF project, individuals from a wider range of African LDCs – including Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia - participated in a regional, online 'webinar' based training programme, which provided basic training across a range of technical geothermal disciplines.

2.3  EXAMPLES FROM GLOBAL PROGRAMMES

2.3.1  New Zealand Scholarships

32.  Aotearoa New Zealand provides scholarships to citizens of targeted developing countries to undertake vocational, professional, or tertiary study in New Zealand, the Pacific region, or in South East Asia. The majority of these scholarships are offered through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme. In the 2022-23 financial year, 496 Manaaki New Zealand scholars completed their studies. During this period, many scholars who deferred their studies due to COVID-19 border closures were able to commence/resume. At the time of writing 624 tertiary scholars are enrolled in New Zealand or Pacific institutions, and 95 scholars are currently studying vocational or professional courses. In addition, 128 vocational and professional scholars are due to start shortly, as are 130 tertiary scholars. The programme is funded by the International Development Cooperation appropriation, and in the 2022-23 financial year a total of NZD 38.95 million was disbursed.

37. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships enhance the skills, knowledge, and other attributes of scholars in contribution to the social and economic development of their home countries. Scholarships are offered only in subjects and skills relevant to the human resource development needs and priorities of partner countries.

2.4  OTHER NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMMES WITH A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER COMPONENT 

2.4.1  The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

33.   

34.  The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) provides on-going technical assistance on request to developing and least developed countries. New Zealand will continue to support future work, on request, to improve the intellectual property systems of developing countries.

35.  IPONZ is recognised for its efficient and effective online services, high quality examination and registration processes. As a result, IPONZ hosts delegations and study visits from developing and least developed countries to provide practical training and knowledge sharing.

36.  Recently, IPONZ's ability to assist has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions at the New Zealand border. With these restrictions easing IPONZ can offer its assistance more readily again.

2.4.2  The Plant Variety Rights Office (PVRO)

37.  New Zealand has been a member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) since 1981. A key element of UPOV is cooperation between member states and the harmonisation of testing and examination activity. On an as requested basis, New Zealand supplies variety test reports to several members and utilises testing results from other states for the Rights decision here.  Such activity encourages on going sharing and exchange of technical experience and expertise between UPOV member states.

38.  New Zealand continues to actively participate in the Council, Consultative Committee, Administrative and Legal Committee, Technical Committee and the five Technical Working Parties. New Zealand was the chair of the Technical Working Party for Fruit Crops for the 2022 – 23 period. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) conducted meetings in person and  by virtual means.

Table of specific activities by New Zealand for the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

2.4.3  AANZFTA Economic Cooperation Support Programme

39.  The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) mandates a programme of technical assistance activities to assist AANZFTA Parties to operationalise and implement the Agreement, particularly the 'Economic Cooperation' chapter of AANZFTA. Until June 2022, this was known as the AANZFTA Economic Cooperation Support Programme (AECSP). New Zealand has committed to continue to fund the AECSP successor programme, the AANZFTA Implementation Support Program (AISP), which continues to support AANZFTA Parties to operationalise and implement the Agreement. The successor programme became operational in 2022. Like the AECSP, the AISP is jointly funded by Australia and New Zealand.

40.  Projects funded by the AISP are available to all ten ASEAN member states. The aim of AANZFTA Economic Cooperation is to facilitate AANZFTA implementation; progress built-in agenda negotiations; achieve deeper economic integration among the parties; and increase business utilisation of AANZFTA.

41.  Under the 2023 Economic Cooperation Work Plan for the AISP, the programme will deliver a number of projects focused on intellectual property in the next year, including:

·         Strengthening intellectual property knowledge for women's enterprises, supporting women-led businesses to develop their trademark (design and registration), and supporting women's enterprises to participate in the IP Week 2024.   

·         Knowledge-sharing activities and research on the competencies and skillsets of ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand's intellectual property service professionals.

42.  Past AECSP projects that have focussed on intellectual property include:

• ·         Assistance for ASEAN member States to accede to the Madrid Protocol and implement it post-accession, facilitating trademark registration regionally and globally.

• ·    Projects to strengthen ASEAN member States' institutional capacity to design and adopt a high-quality, consistent, and sustainable approach to patent examination and tailored training—through three intertwined projects: Regional Patent Examination Training (RPET), Ideal Patent Examination Training (IPET) Model, and the RPET Mentoring Programme.
•  Development of a Regional Intellectual Property Public Education and Awareness Strategy and a pool of resources (e.g., IP for Business Portal, handbook, and guide) to raise awareness of AANZFTA business communities and IP creators about strategic IP management, helping them reap the benefits of AANZFTA through innovation and applying for and using their IP rights.