What this funding is for

The R&D Career Grant helps you hire a master's or PhD graduate to work on a research and development project in your business.

You can use the funding to:

  • employ a graduate in a full-time R&D role for six months
  • build your team's R&D skills and knowledge
  • bring new skills and ideas into your business
  • support the delivery of an R&D project.

Graduates can come from a range of disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, design, and business.

Type
Grant
Amount
Contribution towards six months of a graduate’s salary. Up to $30,000 for a master’s graduate. Up to $35,000 for a PhD graduate
Co-funding
No
How it's allocated
Funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis
Availability
Open, set dates apply
Application effort
Moderate effort, four to 12 hours

Who this funding is for

This grant is for businesses that want to grow their research and development capability by hiring a master's or PhD graduate.

Your business must have an R&D project for the graduate to work on and be able to supervise them during the placement.

Business type
Companies, limited partnerships, and Māori organisations
Business size
Any, must have at least one R&D full-time employee (FTE)
Business stage
Businesses already doing R&D
Business goal
Develop new products, services, or technology

What to know before you apply

Your business must be able to carry out the R&D project and supervise the graduate during their placement.

Some government-owned organisations are not eligible.

Apply to MBIE for the R&D Career Grant

Find out if you're eligible and apply to Innovation Services on business.govt.nz.

Learn more about

Funding options