RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Research and Development Project Grant
Callaghan Innovation administer the Government's Business R&D Grants. They advise that Research and Development Project Grants are for firms with smaller R&D programmes and those that are new to R&D. The purpose of the grants is to support more R&D activity in New Zealand. The programme helps companies exploit emerging areas of science and technology. These grants can help address technical feasibility, commercial feasibility and proof of concept research.
Eligible Businesses
To be eligible for Callaghan Innovation R&D funding the business must be registered under the Companies Act 1993, or a Limited Partnership under the Limited Partnership Act 2008.
Callaghan Innovation administer the Government's Business R&D Grants. They advise that Research and Development Project Grants are for firms with smaller R&D programmes and those that are new to R&D. The purpose of the grants is to support more R&D activity in New Zealand. The programme helps companies exploit emerging areas of science and technology. These grants can help address technical feasibility, commercial feasibility and proof of concept research.
Eligible Businesses
To be eligible for Callaghan Innovation R&D funding the business must be registered under the Companies Act 1993, or a Limited Partnership under the Limited Partnership Act 2008.
Changes to the R&D Project Grant 2021-2022
Callaghan Innovation have made changes to the R&D project grant as of July 2021. They advise “The Project Grant is designed to help you:
Eligibility for the Project Grant - New Settings 2021-2022
"To apply for a Project Grant, your business must be one of the following:
To qualify from 13 July 2021, under the 2021-22 Project Grant settings, your business must also:
Callaghan Innovation have made changes to the R&D project grant as of July 2021. They advise “The Project Grant is designed to help you:
- Build your R&D expertise by giving your business an opportunity to push the boundaries and uncover new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding
- Break new ground in an R&D project for the development of new or substantially improved devices, products, processes, systems or services
- Develop your business into a stable and substantial R&D performer
- Grow your investment in R&D".
Eligibility for the Project Grant - New Settings 2021-2022
"To apply for a Project Grant, your business must be one of the following:
- Incorporated in New Zealand and registered under the Companies Act. Note that companies registered on the Overseas Register are not eligible for funding.
- Registered under the Limited Partnerships Act.
- A Māori incorporation or trust established under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, a trust set up to manage assets as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, a Māori statutory body, or a business controlled by one or more of these entities.
- Charitable Trusts can apply for funding only if they meet the business criteria above and satisfy all other criteria.
To qualify from 13 July 2021, under the 2021-22 Project Grant settings, your business must also:
- Meet financial and due diligence requirements.
- Not have had more than $300k R&D spend in either of the last two years.
- Not have been conducting R&D for more than 2 years - ie you are new to R&D.
- Not have received funding under a Growth Grant contract within 2 years of the Growth Grant contract maturity date.
- Under our new settings a business cannot receive more than two project grants from Callaghan Innovation. If you have received grant funding for two project grants previously, you are no longer eligible for funding under this scheme”.
How Much Funding is Available?
Normally 40 percent co-funding is available.
Callaghan Innovation Project Grant Recipients – Additional Support from the Research and Development Tax Incentive
In May 2021 the RDTI Hub advised that “Businesses with a Callaghan Innovation Project Grant may now be able to claim additional financial support for their research and development (R&D) activities under the R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI) scheme. Under a recent RDTI law change, Project Grant recipients may now be able to claim the RDTI for any money spent on R&D that is above the amount specified in their Project Grant agreement. Previously, all expenditure relating to a Project Grant was ineligible for an RDTI claim, even if that expenditure was more than the amount originally estimated for the grant”.
On-Line Application
The grant application is submitted on-line on the government's Investment Management System Portal.
Normally 40 percent co-funding is available.
Callaghan Innovation Project Grant Recipients – Additional Support from the Research and Development Tax Incentive
In May 2021 the RDTI Hub advised that “Businesses with a Callaghan Innovation Project Grant may now be able to claim additional financial support for their research and development (R&D) activities under the R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI) scheme. Under a recent RDTI law change, Project Grant recipients may now be able to claim the RDTI for any money spent on R&D that is above the amount specified in their Project Grant agreement. Previously, all expenditure relating to a Project Grant was ineligible for an RDTI claim, even if that expenditure was more than the amount originally estimated for the grant”.
On-Line Application
The grant application is submitted on-line on the government's Investment Management System Portal.
Regional Business Partners
The first point of contact for these grants is through a network of Regional Business Partners. Callaghan Innovation's Regional Business Partners appointed to deliver this funding are listed on our business grants page. Contact the Regional Business Partner closest to you to discuss your project.
Sources. RDTI Hub, Callaghan Innovation
The first point of contact for these grants is through a network of Regional Business Partners. Callaghan Innovation's Regional Business Partners appointed to deliver this funding are listed on our business grants page. Contact the Regional Business Partner closest to you to discuss your project.
Sources. RDTI Hub, Callaghan Innovation
How we can help you Apply for the R&D Project Grant
We are experienced in helping companies apply for this grant. We use an agenda and template driven process. We can help you with the online documentation, on-line submission, reports and claims; and liaison with Callaghan Innovation. To learn more contact us.
We are experienced in helping companies apply for this grant. We use an agenda and template driven process. We can help you with the online documentation, on-line submission, reports and claims; and liaison with Callaghan Innovation. To learn more contact us.
Research and Development Growth Grant
The R&D Growth Grant was closed on 31 March 2019 when the R&D Tax Incentive/Credit was implemented.
The R&D Growth Grant was closed on 31 March 2019 when the R&D Tax Incentive/Credit was implemented.
Student R&D Grants
The eligible expenditure funded under the different student grants is normally limited to the wages and salary of the student, a tax-free stipend for the student, a tertiary administration fee and, when the business is located a significant distance from the tertiary institute, a travel allowance for the student.
The eligible expenditure funded under the different student grants is normally limited to the wages and salary of the student, a tax-free stipend for the student, a tertiary administration fee and, when the business is located a significant distance from the tertiary institute, a travel allowance for the student.
How we can help you Obtain R&D Funding
We use an agenda and template driven process to help companies apply for these R&D grants. We provide consulting and advisory services to help you, and your team, with the business case preparation, online documentation, on-line submission, reports and claims; and liaison with Callaghan Innovation staff and representatives. To learn more contact us.
We use an agenda and template driven process to help companies apply for these R&D grants. We provide consulting and advisory services to help you, and your team, with the business case preparation, online documentation, on-line submission, reports and claims; and liaison with Callaghan Innovation staff and representatives. To learn more contact us.
Useful Links: Research and Development Grants
Callaghan Innovation
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
New Zealand Intellectual Property Office
Help preparing business plans
Help planning business projects
Help planning and managing research and development projects
This page was last updated on 23 September 2021