New to R&D Grant

The grant comes in two parts, which work in parallel. If you apply, you'll put forward a proposed plan and budget for your first structured R&D project, to push forward your new idea or concept. This first R&D project often has the steepest learning curve and the most exciting, future defining outputs, and provides vital hands-on experience to use for many years to come.

Alongside the first project, you will also receive funding to build R&D skills and capabilities within your business. Our scientists, engineers and R&D experts have identified six areas of essential skills and capabilities that innovators should possess to become long term R&D performers. You’ll choose learning activities that are most likely to fill skill gaps, directly impact the progress of your idea and enhance your R&D project.

Like many other government grants, recipients will need to secure co-funding. For every dollar spent by a recipient, 40 cents come from Callaghan Innovation, and the other 60 cents come from their own funds, or via private investment. The co-funding supports a maximum total combined costs of $1m (40% - $400,000), covering both skills and capability building and R&D project costs.

Your business is unique, so your R&D should be unique too. All of this new and unique knowledge has a positive impact on the innovation ecosystem, which in turn plays a vital role in driving economic growth and future prosperity in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We know R&D can be uncertain and there’s no guarantee of yielding the results you want. But with that initial groundwork done - your ducks in a row - you can feel more confident that you’ll get to the right outcome as fast as possible, for all of your future R&D activities.

The grant will fund 40% of your eligible R&D activities and Capability Development building, up to the maximum total of $400,000. This means for every dollar spent by a recipient, 40 cents come from Callaghan Innovation, and the other 60 cents come from their own funds, or via private investment. 

As part of the funding agreement, you will be required to conduct activities from between two and six different Skills and Capability Development categories (above). You’ll need to provide the details of your chosen Capability Development activities as part of your application. 

Additionally you’ll need to demonstrate how your chosen capability development will build knowledge in the business, and the impact it will have on driving long-term R&D performance.

Your capability development activities should comprise no less than 5% of the total grant funding.  

Example (broken down below) : Your costs are $1,000,000. You will receive $400,000 total in co-funding, requiring you to fund the remaining $600,000.