University of Otago senior genetics researcher Associate Prof Peter Dearden is ''incredibly pleased'' the Government has boosted science, innovation and research funding by $200 million in the Budget.
The extra funding over the next four years, including an extra $20 million for the Marsden Fund, which supports blue skies research, was ''positive'', he said.
He was encouraged that the Government was willing to increase science funding despite other major issues, including the rebuilding of Christchurch and an international ''financial crisis''.
But he believed there was also scope for a further funding rise, including for the key Marsden Fund.
Former leading French scientist Louis Pasteur had noted that ''fortune favours the prepared mind''.
New Zealand had many ''prepared minds''- many fine scientists who could make a major contribution to the country's future if sufficient funding was available.
Prof Dearden is director of Genetics Otago and a former convener of the university's Ozone group, comprising top young scientists pressing for more awareness of, and funding for, science and other research.
Announcing the funding boost yesterday, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said the Government was striving to build ''a more competitive and productive economy''.
New funding includes $75.2 million for business research and development funds, $31.3 million for repayable grants for start-up businesses and $73.5 million for the National Science Challenges.
Prof Dearden noted there had already been some criticism of the ''Science Challenges'' approach but he strongly welcomed the extra funding, and an associated and important ''investigator-led'' element.
The Government also announced a significant boost for research and development and start-ups, through $130 million injected into Callaghan Innovation, a Crown Research Institute.
Prof Dearden also supported measures to enable some business R&D grants to be repaid if the business shifted its R&D activity offshore.