New Zealand's technology and innovation sector has grown substantially over recent decades — from Xero and Rocket Lab to thousands of software, hardware, and deep-tech startups. Government investment in research and development, and the grant infrastructure supporting it, is central to this growth. Understanding the tech and innovation grants landscape helps startups, researchers, and established technology companies access available support.
Callaghan Innovation is the primary government agency supporting New Zealand tech and innovation companies. It provides:
R&D Project Grants
Co-funding for New Zealand businesses to undertake research and development:
- The government contributes 20% of eligible R&D expenditure (technology grant)
- Available to businesses doing R&D in New Zealand
- No minimum size requirement, though grant amounts are proportional to qualifying expenditure
- Applied for retrospectively (claim for R&D done in the previous year)
Getting Started Grant
An accelerated pathway for businesses new to claiming R&D support:
- $5,000 grant for first-time R&D claimants
- Helps businesses set up systems to track R&D for future claims
Callaghan Innovation Project Grants (discontinued but legacy)
Previous co-funding grants at higher rates (up to 40%) for specific R&D projects. The current scheme is simpler and broader.
Student Grants
Callaghan Innovation funds internships placing engineering, science, and tech students in New Zealand businesses — enabling companies to access student talent while the student gains industry experience.
Other Callaghan support
Beyond grants, Callaghan Innovation provides:
- Innovation programmes and workshops
- International market connections
- R&D tax incentive (15% tax credit for eligible R&D — separate from grants)
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funds strategic research through:
Endeavour Fund
Contestable funding for excellent research that addresses significant economic, environmental, health, or social challenges. Available to research institutions (universities, CRIs) and some industry collaborations. Smart Ideas grants (faster, smaller) and Research Programmes (larger, longer).
Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF)
Funding for Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) to maintain core research capabilities. Less accessible to startups directly, but CRI partnerships can be valuable.
MBIE Infrastructure grants
For significant research infrastructure — equipment, facilities, and shared platforms that multiple researchers use.
CRIs — government-owned research organisations — are major partners for industry R&D:
- Plant & Food Research: food, beverage, and horticulture
- AgResearch: agricultural science
- Scion: forestry and wood technology
- NIWA: water, atmosphere, and marine science
- GNS Science: geology, nuclear science, isotope research
- Industrial Research Limited (IRL/Callaghan): now largely absorbed into Callaghan Innovation
- ESR: environmental science and public health
Companies can access CRI expertise through collaborative research agreements, contracts, and co-funded research.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
NZTE supports technology companies scaling internationally:
- Market entry grants for international expansion
- Connection to NZTE's global network
- Support for high-growth technology exporters
NZTE's focus is on businesses with significant export potential. Grant programmes are competitive; NZTE also provides non-grant business advisory support.
Regional tech grants
Several regional economic development agencies have specific tech innovation support:
- Auckland Unlimited: Auckland tech sector support
- Priority One (Tauranga/Bay of Plenty): regional tech and agritech
- Activate Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland startup ecosystem
AgriTech
New Zealand's agricultural technology sector has dedicated support:
- Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) — government-industry co-investment in agritech
- SFF Futures (Ministry for Primary Industries) — agricultural innovation
- AgriZeroNZ — low-emissions agriculture technology fund (public-private)
CleanTech and GreenTech
Clean technology — renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable materials:
- ARENA (Australia-only, but some NZ companies access Australian programmes)
- NZ Green Investment Finance: low-carbon investment support
- EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority): energy efficiency grants
HealthTech
Health technology innovation:
- MBIE Health Research through Health Research Council
- Medical Technologies and Pharmaceutical sector-specific support
- Callaghan Innovation for health technology R&D
Understand eligible R&D activities: Callaghan Innovation has specific definitions of what counts as eligible R&D — systematic progression of work based on established science toward a specific outcome that resolves uncertainty. Not all product development qualifies; understand the criteria before claiming.
Keep accurate records: R&D grant claims require contemporaneous records of time, costs, and activities. Retrospective reconstruction of R&D records is difficult; build record-keeping systems from the start.
Use Callaghan's pre-application guidance: Callaghan Innovation programme managers will provide pre-application guidance — use this service before submitting. They can clarify whether your R&D qualifies and how to frame your application.
Consider the tax credit alongside grants: the R&D Tax Incentive (15% tax credit on eligible R&D expenditure) operates alongside grants. Understanding how they interact is important; tax advice is recommended.
Build CRI relationships: Crown Research Institutes are long-term R&D partners for New Zealand technology companies. Building these relationships — through collaborative projects, co-funding, and knowledge sharing — creates durable innovation capability.
Tahua's grants management platform supports research institutions, innovation funders, and technology grant programmes — with grant application management, R&D project tracking, milestone-based payment management, and the reporting tools that help innovation funders invest effectively in New Zealand's technology future.