New to R&D Grant
Reimbursement grant covering 40% of eligible R&D and capability-development costs, up to NZD 400,000 on at most NZD 1 million of eligible cost over up to two years; the business supplies the other 60% from non-Crown sources. · Callaghan Innovation · rolling applications
New to R&D Grant is a grant programme from Callaghan Innovation for New Zealand businesses new to structured R&D and meeting the programme's prior-spend and revenue requirements Current lifecycle: rolling. Real economics: Reimbursement grant covering 40% of eligible R&D and capability-development costs, up to NZD 400,000 on at most NZD 1 million of eligible cost over up to two years; the business supplies the other 60% from non-Crown sources..
Tier 3governmentnew-zealandgrantnon-dilutive
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Key facts
| Funder | Callaghan Innovation |
| Amount | Reimbursement grant covering 40% of eligible R&D and capability-development costs, up to NZD 400,000 on at most NZD 1 million of eligible cost over up to two years; the business supplies the other 60% from non-Crown sources. |
| Deadline | Rolling — apply anytime |
| Decision time | The official process promises an emailed outcome after completeness checks and possible information requests, but publishes no dependable application-to-decision interval. |
| Eligibility | An eligible New Zealand entity new to R&D, below the three-year R&D-spend and government-funding gates, financially able to co-fund 60%, building its first systematic in-house R&D programme and proposing work that satisfies uncertainty, challenge, knowledge-availability, newness and improvement tests. |
| Restrictions | Claims and reports are required at least quarterly; recipients keep full eligible-cost and R&D records for seven years, permit information requests and inspection, obtain approval for material R&D/capability changes, and file a final claim and cost report within three months. Breach, ineligible or duplicate costs, misrepresentation or loss of New Zealand R&D capability can trigger suspension, termination and clawback. Funds reimburse approved eligible R&D and capability-development costs incurred in the grant period. At least two capability categories and at least 5% of project cost are required. Crown-funded co-finance, unrelated work, unsupported costs and costs outside the approved plan are excluded; overseas labour is assessed case by case. |
| Status | rolling |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Application process
- Contact Innovation Services before applying
- Work with a Navigator or Funding Engagement Specialist to screen entity, prior-R&D and project fit
- Choose at least two capability-development activities and allocate at least 5% of total project cost to them
- Prepare the application template, R&D plan, capability plan, cost template and co-funding evidence
- Submit through the Innovation Services grants portal
- Supply clarifications or supporting documents if requested
- Receive the outcome by email
- If approved, sign the MBIE funding agreement before delivery
- Submit claims and progress reports at least quarterly for reimbursement
- Submit the final claim and cost report within three months after the grant period
Background
Callaghan Innovation operates New to R&D Grant. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. The official recipient database lists active 2026 New to R&D awards, including Shoal Limited at NZD 400,000 and multiple awards near the ceiling The scheme is explicitly designed to move first-time R&D businesses toward sustained systematic R&D and the R&D Tax Incentive Awards can run for up to two years
How the application really works
Contact Innovation Services before applying → Work with a Navigator or Funding Engagement Specialist to screen entity, prior-R&D and project fit → Choose at least two capability-development activities and allocate at least 5% of total project cost to them → Prepare the application template, R&D plan, capability plan, cost template and co-funding evidence → Submit through the Innovation Services grants portal → Supply clarifications or supporting documents if requested → Receive the outcome by email → If approved, sign the MBIE funding agreement before delivery → Submit claims and progress reports at least quarterly for reimbursement → Submit the final claim and cost report within three months after the grant period
Tips
- Show direct fit with cross-sector scientific and technological R&D.
- Show direct fit with new or improved goods.
- Show direct fit with new or improved processes.
- Show direct fit with new or improved services.
Watch out for
- Current lifecycle is rolling.
- Claims and reports are required at least quarterly; recipients keep full eligible-cost and R&D records for seven years, permit information requests and inspection, obtain approval for material R&D/capability changes, and file a final claim and cost report within three months. Breach, ineligible or duplicate costs, misrepresentation or loss of New Zealand R&D capability can trigger suspension, termination and clawback.
- Funds reimburse approved eligible R&D and capability-development costs incurred in the grant period. At least two capability categories and at least 5% of project cost are required. Crown-funded co-finance, unrelated work, unsupported costs and costs outside the approved plan are excluded; overseas labour is assessed case by case.
Track record
- The official recipient database lists active 2026 New to R&D awards, including Shoal Limited at NZD 400,000 and multiple awards near the ceiling
- The scheme is explicitly designed to move first-time R&D businesses toward sustained systematic R&D and the R&D Tax Incentive
- Awards can run for up to two years
The official recipient database discloses active awards, including 2026 grants up to NZD 400,000, but neither the programme page nor database publishes an application denominator, so no acceptance rate is calculated.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this actionable now?
- rolling. Applications were open on 10 August 2026 through a contact-first, continuously available Innovation Services route; no fixed deadline is published and availability remains subject to programme funding.
- What is the real economic value?
- Reimbursement grant covering 40% of eligible R&D and capability-development costs, up to NZD 400,000 on at most NZD 1 million of eligible cost over up to two years; the business supplies the other 60% from non-Crown sources.
- Who is eligible?
- An eligible New Zealand entity new to R&D, below the three-year R&D-spend and government-funding gates, financially able to co-fund 60%, building its first systematic in-house R&D programme and proposing work that satisfies uncertainty, challenge, knowledge-availability, newness and improvement tests.
- How does selection work?
- Contact Innovation Services before applying; Work with a Navigator or Funding Engagement Specialist to screen entity, prior-R&D and project fit; Choose at least two capability-development activities and allocate at least 5% of total project cost to them; Prepare the application template, R&D plan, capability plan, cost template and co-funding evidence; Submit through the Innovation Services grants portal; Supply clarifications or supporting documents if requested; Receive the outcome by email; If approved, sign the MBIE funding agreement before delivery; Submit claims and progress reports at least quarterly for reimbursement; Submit the final claim and cost report within three months after the grant period. The official process promises an emailed outcome after completeness checks and possible information requests, but publishes no dependable application-to-decision interval.
- What burden and restrictions apply?
- Claims and reports are required at least quarterly; recipients keep full eligible-cost and R&D records for seven years, permit information requests and inspection, obtain approval for material R&D/capability changes, and file a final claim and cost report within three months. Breach, ineligible or duplicate costs, misrepresentation or loss of New Zealand R&D capability can trigger suspension, termination and clawback. Funds reimburse approved eligible R&D and capability-development costs incurred in the grant period. At least two capability categories and at least 5% of project cost are required. Crown-funded co-finance, unrelated work, unsupported costs and costs outside the approved plan are excluded; overseas labour is assessed case by case.
- What evidence exists?
- The official recipient database lists active 2026 New to R&D awards, including Shoal Limited at NZD 400,000 and multiple awards near the ceiling The scheme is explicitly designed to move first-time R&D businesses toward sustained systematic R&D and the R&D Tax Incentive Awards can run for up to two years The official recipient database discloses active awards, including 2026 grants up to NZD 400,000, but neither the programme page nor database publishes an application denominator, so no acceptance rate is calculated.
Related grants
Sources
- www.business.govt.nz/tax-and-money/innovation-funding/new-to-r-and-d-grant — Current official page: open lifecycle, 40%/NZD 400,000 economics, entity and prior-R&D gates, application, co-funding and materials (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.business.govt.nz/browse-our-resource-library/new-to-r-and-d-grant-funding-agreement — Current official funding-agreement resource: claims, quarterly reports, records, audit, changes, termination and clawback (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.business.govt.nz/browse-our-resource-library/new-to-r-and-d-eligible-costs-grant-guidelines — Current official eligible-cost and capability-development guide (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.business.govt.nz/browse-our-resource-library/new-to-r-and-d-grant-application-template — Current official application-template resource (checked 2026-08-10)
- www.business.govt.nz/tax-and-money/innovation-funding — Current official innovation-funding portfolio and prior-recipient context (checked 2026-08-10)
- funds.business.govt.nz/customer-support — Current official contact-first Innovation Services route (checked 2026-08-10)