This section provides a technical description of the data that has been used to compile this report. It focuses on the data quality and the definitions and processes used for data collection and analysis.
Survey background
The Biotechnology Survey 2005 measures the use of biotechnologies and their uptake by organisations. The survey also asked respondents about the characteristics of their organisations, including the use of strategic alliances, information sharing and constraints to biotechnology work.
Data collection
The Biotechnology Survey 2005 was a postal survey of all organisations meeting the population selection criteria. There were two ways in which an organisation could meet the criteria. The first was if certain biotechnology-specific keywords were found to match those in an organisation name on the Statistics NZ Business Frame. Statistics NZ then supplemented this population with lists from New Zealand Government funding agencies and New Zealand biotechnology associations, as well as the indicator in the Research and Development Survey 2004.
The majority of the questionnaire uses a two-year reference period. Financial information was requested from respondents for the 2005 financial year. The survey was posted out in August 2005.
Comparison between the 2004 and 2005 surveys
A number of changes have taken place between the 2004 and 2005 surveys. The key changes are described below.
For all questions in the survey not relating to the last financial year, the reference period has changed from the three-year period used in the Biotechnology Survey 2004, to the two-year reference period in the Biotechnology Survey 2005. This coincides with the survey becoming biennial from 2005.
In 2005 a new framework was used to determine the areas of application of biotechnology techniques being used. This framework is based on the work of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST), and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. For this reason, no comparisons can be made with the previous year’s data.
The Biotechnology Survey 2005 captures data specifically on biotechnology commercialisation (new products/services introduced to the market).
Care needs to be taken when making comparisons between data from the Biotechnology Survey 2004 and the Biotechnology Survey 2005, due to the change in reference periods.
Measurement errors
Given the nature of the data collected, there are limitations on the level of accuracy that can be expected from the Biotechnology Survey 2005. For many enterprises in New Zealand, biotechnology represents only a small portion of their operations, and for this reason it is hard to separate out biotechnology work from other work. Detailed definitions of what should and should not be included as biotechnology were provided on the questionnaire, and phone-in help was available to respondents.
Revisions have been made to headcount data from the Biotechnology Survey 2004, based on responses received from the Biotechnology Survey 2005.
Target population
The population selection methodology was similar to that used by Statistics NZ in the Biotechnology Survey 2004. The only modification was the addition to the population of enterprises that reported biotechnology R&D in the Research and Development Survey 2004 and which were not already captured through any of the keyword searches or organisational lists.
Organisations that reported they did not use biotechnology techniques in the 2004 survey were generally excluded from the population for 2005.
The selection unit for inclusion in the population was set at the enterprise level.
Criterion 1
The population included enterprises whose predominant activity was likely to be modern biotechnology.
This category included:
(a) All enterprises on the Statistics NZ Business Frame with any of the following keywords in their legal and/or trading names:
- Bioinformatics
- Bioprocessing
- Bioreagent
- Biotechnology
- Biotransformation(s)
- Chromatography
- Clonal
- Concentrates
- Extract
- Extraction
- Fluid extraction
- Functional foods
- Genetic(s)
- Genomic(s)
- Industrial microbiology
- Monoclonal
- Nutraceutical(s)
- Proteomic(s)
- Supercritical
- Transgenic.
(b) Enterprises on the New Zealand Biosphere membership list.
(c) All institutions on the 2004 Foundation for Research, Science and Technology lists of applicants receiving funding to carry out biotechnology-related research and/or development activities.
(d) Local authority sewerage treatment facilities.
(e) All Crown research institutes.
(f) University departments that have an interest in biotechnology.
(g) Microbiology units in metropolitan hospitals.
(h) The New Zealand Blood Service.
(i) All enterprises reporting biotechnology R&D in the Statistics NZ and MoRST's Research and Development Survey 2004.
Criterion 2
The second part of population selection attempted to identify enterprises whose predominant activity was not modern biotechnology, but were considered likely to engage in some modern biotechnology activity. This category includes all enterprises on the Statistics New Zealand Business Frame with any of the following key words in their legal and/or trading names:
- Biological
- Bioscience(s)
- Diagnostics
- Health
- Life science(s)
- Pharmaceutical(s)
- Pharmaceutics
- Science(s)
- Scientific
- Serum.
The third part of the population selection process involved selecting all enterprises that have geographical units on the Statistics NZ Business Frame with one of the following ANZSIC codes:
A0301 Forestry
B1101 Black coal mining
B1200 Oil and gas extraction
C2121 Milk and cream manufacturing
C2129 Dairy product manufacturing
C2161 Bread manufacturing
C2182 Beer and malt manufacturing
C2183 Wine manufacturing
C2331 Pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturing
C2543 Medicinal and pharmaceutical product manufacturing
C2544 Pesticide manufacturing
L7810 Scientific research
L7829 Technical services nec
O8431 Higher education
O8611 Hospitals
Enterprises were removed from criterion 2 population selection if they had GST sales of less than $5 million.
Response rate
The target overall response rate for the Biotechnology Survey 2005 was 90 percent. The survey achieved an actual response rate of 93 percent, including a 100 percent response rate of enterprises which were identified as being key to the survey.
The population for the Biotechnology Survey 2005 consisted of 400 enterprises.
Imputation
No imputation was conducted for the Biotechnology Survey 2005.
Definitions
ANZSIC: Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification system – New Zealand version 1996.
Biotechnology: The application of science and technology to living organisms as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services.
The following list of techniques was published by the OECD in 2004 as an interpretative guide as to what biotechnology includes:
DNA – thecoding: genomics, pharmaco-genetics, gene probes, DNA sequencing/synthesis/amplification, genetic engineering
Proteins and molecules – the functional blocks: protein/peptide sequencing/synthesis, lipid/protein glyco-engineering, proteomics, hormones, and growth factors, cell receptors/signalling/pheromones
Cell and tissue culture, and engineering: cell/tissue culture, tissue engineering, hybridisation, cellular fusion, vaccine/immune stimulants, embryo manipulation
Process biotechnologies: bioreactors, fermentation, bioprocessing, bioleaching, bio-pulping, bio-bleaching, biodesulphurisation, bioremediation, and biofiltration
DNA and RNA vectors: gene therapy, viral vectors.
Other: bioinformatics, nanobiotechnologies, other.
Enterprise: A business or service entity operating in New Zealand. It can be a company, partnership, trust, estate, incorporated society, producer board, local or central government organisation, voluntary organisation or self-employed individual.
Goods and services tax (GST): Respondents are asked to exclude GST if possible in the financial figures provided in the questionnaire. If they have not, Statistics New Zealand takes out GST to make all enterprises comparable.
Research and development (R&D): Research and experimental development comprising creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge. Any activity classified as R&D is characterised by originality. Investigation is a primary objective.
Statistics New Zealand Business Frame: A register of all businesses operating in New Zealand..
Copyright
Information obtained from Statistics New Zealand may be freely used, reproduced, or quoted unless otherwise specified. In all cases Statistics New Zealand must be acknowledged as the source.
Liability
While care has been used in processing, analysing and extracting information, Statistics New Zealand gives no warranty that the information supplied is free from error. Statistics New Zealand shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service.
Timing
Timed statistical releases are delivered using postal and electronic services provided by third parties. Delivery of these releases may be delayed by circumstances outside the control of Statistics New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand accepts no responsibility for any such delays.
Next release ...
Biotechnology in New Zealand: 2005 will be released in June 2006.