R&D funding and support

The Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) funds more business research and development (R&D) than any other part of the government.

One of the ministry’s primary aims is to build links between business, government and research organisations to improve New Zealand’s prosperity through science and innovation.

It does this by investing in businesses with the potential to transform the economy with pivotal R&D projects.

On this page:

• General eligibility criteria
• MSI funding
• Funding and advice contacts

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General eligibility criteria

Specific eligibility criteria apply to each stream of MSI funding, but to qualify for any funding from MSI your business must first:

• Be a person or entity in business and resident in New Zealand.
• Not be an entity established under the:
  
  • Education Act 1989
  • Crown Research Institutes Act 1992
  • Local Government Act 2002
  • New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000
  • or a business with 50% or more owned by one or more of those types of entities.

Find out about MSI funding application guidelines.

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MSI funding

MSI provides funding for companies of all sizes and in all stages of development, from small start-ups to established exporters.

If you receive MSI funding, the ministry takes no equity stake in your business and only in exceptional circumstances does it require you to make any repayments.

Tailored project funding

If your business is eligible for funding and needs financial support for a technically challenging R&D project, MSI may be able to develop a tailored package for you. This funding can cover:

• Initial funding to prove the feasibility of technically developing a product.
• Further funding to complete the R&D and take it to commercial reality.

The amount of funding generally meets 50% of the R&D costs. Project funding is available on demand and can be applied for at any time throughout the year.

Find out more about how MSI assesses application for on-demand funding.

Capability funding

MSI offers businesses three streams of funding specifically designed to increase R&D capability:

MSI internship funding brings young up and coming talent into businesses to help them undertake R&D projects.

Undergraduate internships

MSI can fund an undergraduate student from an appropriate academic background to intern on your R&D project at a rate of $16 per hour for a maximum of 400 hours’ work ($6,400 maximum).

This increases the specialist human resources you can apply to the project and gives young innovators vital experience working in a commercial research environment.

MSI pay the funding – plus GST – directly to your business.

This programme is run once a year.

Postgraduate internships

Every year MSI funds postgraduate internships for businesses to expand their R&D and commercialisation capability. The postgraduate students must have degree backgrounds in:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Design
• Marketing
• or postgraduate students with commercialisation experience.

You can apply to have a postgraduate intern placed at your business on a salary of up to $60,000 a year, with MSI funding half of the salary. You must employ the postgraduate or engage them in a fixed term contract of six months duration. There is no obligation to permanently employ the intern.

MSI will only cover the salary of the postgraduate (not any supplementary or project-related costs).

Competition for postgraduate intern funding is always very intense. MSI recommends you wait for confirmation of a successful application before you start the recruitment process.

This programme is run once a year.

Find out about Recruiting and Managing staff.

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MSI expert funding supports businesses to introduce outside experts into their R&D and commercialisation projects.

The expert can either provide specialist technical expertise for a challenging R&D project, or industrial experience your business can draw upon prior to R&D to help you refine your targets for future projects.

MSI expert funding covers 50% of the expert’s costs, with payment made directly to your business.

If you take expert funding from MSI your business will be expected to successfully commercialise new products, processes or services on the back of it.

MSI also offers its Global Expert service under MSI expert funding. The service helps streamline expert recruitment by helping you locate pre-screened experts from around the world with experience in the appropriate field for your R&D project.

This funding is available on demand.

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MSI capability funding also helps businesses increase their capability through funding the living expense of a postgraduate student who works in the business and uses this experience to complete his degree. Although it is the business that applies for funding, MSI pays the student’s stipend to the university, which passes this on to the student.

For masters students, funding of up to $20,000 is available for one year.

For PhD students, funding of up to $25,000 is available annually for three years.

This funding allows businesses to benefit from the expertise and knowledge of a postgraduate student, while the student is able to complete his degree and gaining valuable work experience.

This funding is available on demand.

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Technology Transfer Voucher

If you need the external input of a public research organisation, MSI can help fund their role in your project with a Technology Transfer Voucher.

The vouchers are currently aimed at businesses in the high value manufacturing and services, as this sector is being targeted by Government for economic growth.

The purpose of the vouchers is to build links between business, government and research organisations to improve New Zealand’s prosperity through science and innovation.

Fourteen research organisations have been accredited by MSI for the programme. They provide expertise in:

• Novel materials, manufacturing and applications.
• Health and medical technologies.
• Information, communications and digital technologies.
• Agri-technologies.

Technology transfer vouchers are available on-demand and can be applied for at any time throughout the year.

To apply for a Technology Transfer Voucher you need to register directly with MSI.

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Funding and advice contacts

Funding

• If you haven’t worked with MSI before contact your Regional Business Partner.
• If you have, contact your nearest MSI office or your investment manager.

Advice

• If you need to source advice on starting or progressing an R&D project, or commercialisation, contact your Regional Business Partner.
• If you’re seeking support for marketing or branding projects contact New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

Find out more about the value of R&D with the case study Swiftpoint Ltd – from micro-mouse to macro success.