Eligibility criteria
If you are part of a corporate group containing other R&D performing businesses, you may not be eligible to apply. You will be assessed on whether you have access to the capabilities of those businesses to assist you with your R&D. See our grouping guidance here.
To apply for a New to R&D Grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Your business must not have received any government funding for R&D greater than $5,000 in the three years prior to the date of submission of your application, including Callaghan Innovation grants or loan, the Research and Development Tax Incentive, the R&D Loss Tax Credit or any other government funding intended to support R&D.
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- Your business must have spent less than $150,000 in total on R&D over the three years prior to the date of submission of your application.
- You must be able to fund your share of the R&D costs. You'll be asked to provide evidence for your 60% share of the co-funding. Read our evidence of funds advice, to see what evidence is suitable.
Also to be eligible, your business must be one of the following:
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- A Company incorporated and registered in New Zealand under the Companies Act 1993 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
- A Limited Partnership registered in New Zealand under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
- A Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, or a similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership.
The following businesses are NOT eligible for the New to R&D Grant:
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- Local authorities and Local and Regional Promotional Bodies.
- State Owned Enterprises, Crown Entities, Government departments or agencies, Public Finance Act 1989 Schedule 4A companies.
- Crown Research Institutes (CRIs).
- Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) including foreign-owned TEOs.
- Entities controlled by any of the above (control means 50% or more of shares or voting interests in another entity or control of appointments to an entity’s controlling board).
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- Sole traders
- Charitable trusts
- Partnerships
- Joint Ventures
- Companies incorporated in another country but registered to do business in New Zealand(registered under the Overseas Register – ASIC or NON-ASIC)
To apply for a New to R&D Grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Your business must not have received any government funding for R&D greater than $5,000 in the three years prior to the date of submission of your application, including Callaghan Innovation grants or loan, the Research and Development Tax Incentive, the R&D Loss Tax Credit or any other government funding intended to support R&D.
-
- Your business must have spent less than $150,000 in total on R&D over the three years prior to the date of submission of your application.
- You must be able to fund your share of the R&D costs. You'll be asked to provide evidence for your 60% share of the co-funding. Read our evidence of funds advice, to see what evidence is suitable.
Also to be eligible, your business must be one of the following:
-
- A Company incorporated and registered in New Zealand under the Companies Act 1993 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
- A Limited Partnership registered in New Zealand under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
- A Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, or a similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership.
The following businesses are NOT eligible for the New to R&D Grant:
-
- Local authorities and Local and Regional Promotional Bodies.
- State Owned Enterprises, Crown Entities, Government departments or agencies, Public Finance Act 1989 Schedule 4A companies.
- Crown Research Institutes (CRIs).
- Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) including foreign-owned TEOs.
- Entities controlled by any of the above (control means 50% or more of shares or voting interests in another entity or control of appointments to an entity’s controlling board).
-
- Sole traders
- Charitable trusts
- Partnerships
- Joint Ventures
- Companies incorporated in another country but registered to do business in New Zealand(registered under the Overseas Register – ASIC or NON-ASIC)
Resources
Frequently asked questions
If you have received a student grant in the last three years, you are not eligible to apply for the New to R&D Grant. However, if you are approved for a New to R&D Grant, you may apply for a student grant in the future.
Your business must not have received any government funding for R&D greater than $5,000 in the last 3 years (exact dates will be advised to you when you enquire about applying) including Callaghan Innovation grants or loans, the Research and Development Tax Incentive, the R&D Loss Tax Credit or any other government funding intended to support R&D. If you have received just one Getting Started Grant, you may be eligible to apply.
Yes. Applying for or receiving the New to R&D Grant will not prevent you from being eligible to apply for the Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer Grant.
Project grants were to assist businesses with a discrete R&D project. New to R&D is all about assisting businesses that are New to R&D to develop their R&D capability and to become long term R&D performers. It is not for one off projects.
The New to R&D Grant will be based on approved R&D activities that have a defined outcome. However, capability development activities to enable a recipient to conduct sustainable R&D will be supported also.
No, this is not a replacement for project grants. A minimum of two capability development activities must be undertaken. If your business does not need to develop R&D capability, you will not be eligible for the grant. There will also be a stronger weighting in the assessment process on your ongoing R&D plans. We will not fund one off projects or applications that can't demonstrate a genuine R&D plan for the future.
Eligible costs are co-funded at 40%.
The maximum grant amount that can be received is $400,000.
Approval for overseas labour expenditure is at Callaghan Innovation's discretion and will be subject to the business demonstrating that the capability cannot be sourced in New Zealand. Materials and consumables purchased from overseas are allowed.
This Grant is all about building R&D capability and so this is a once only grant. Once you have built your R&D programme, you will be provided with guidance on how to access the Research and Development Tax Incentive.
No - the work must be undertaken by the business as the intent is to build the business into a future R&D performer.
No - if you do not need any capability development, you are not eligible and should move to RDTI.
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