2032 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 70 24 JUNE 2010

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the common eligibility criteria for the tool, the following are also eligible to receive funding:

• A group of businesses; and
• A representative nominated by a business, or by a group of businesses.

The following research, science and technology activities are eligible to receive funding under this tool:

• Research and development projects that significantly increase a business’ technological expertise; and
• the majority of targeted grants encourage or support high risk “stretch” research and development activities, as determined by the Foundation.

Other Parameters

Co-funding is required.

2. Technology New Zealand Capability Grants

Policy Objectives

The objective of this initiative, in addition to the overall objectives of this tool, is to grow New Zealand businesses’ research and development capability by:

• improving their ability to develop new or more sophisticated technologies; and/or
• improving research and development skills and related business management practices.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the common eligibility criteria for the tool, the following are also eligible to receive funding:

• A group of businesses; or
• a representative nominated by a business, or by a group of businesses.

The research, science and technology and related activities funded under this initiative should result in businesses:

• that have not previously undertaken research and development beginning to do so; or
• sustaining on-going research and development activity; or
• improving uptake of external technologies, including international technologies; or
• adopting business practices to support increased or improved research and development activity.

3. Technology Development Grant

Policy Objectives

The objective of this initiative, in addition to the overall objectives of this tool, is to improve New Zealand’s economic performance by increasing the total level of the investment made by high technology New Zealand businesses in research and development.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the common eligibility criteria for the tool, to be eligible to receive funding a business must:

• have a track record of reasonable spend on research and development activities relative to the revenue of that business (R&D intensity); and
• meet due diligence standards as defined by the Foundation; and
• have a research and development programme that aligns with the aspirations of the business around growth and is likely to generate wider benefit to New Zealand.

This initiative will support a programme of research and development activities.

Other Parameters

A grant equal to 20% of the eligible expenditure of a firm’s R&D programme, up to $2.4 million a year. Eligible firms must have an R&D intensity (the ratio of R&D expenditure to revenue) of 5% or more and revenue of at least $3 million per year over three years.

4. Technology Transfer Voucher

Policy Objectives

The objective of this initiative, in addition to the overall objectives of this tool, is to increase the transfer of technology and related knowledge between firms and accredited publicly funded research organisations by supporting business led projects that develop better linkages between the two.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the common eligibility criteria for the tool, the following are also eligible to receive funding:

• A group of businesses; or
• a representative nominated by a business, or by a group of businesses.

This initiative will support research and development activities that respond to business needs. The research and development activities will be undertaken by an accredited research organisation (as determined by the Foundation).

Other Parameters

Co-funding is required.

Long term Non-contestable Funding

Policy Objectives

A non-contestable process to support the outcomes sought through the Ministerial Directions for Vote Research, Science and Technology (RS&T) funds and to generate economic, environmental or social benefits for New Zealand. In particular, this tool will support RS&T with the potential to:

1. create and support large-scale, long-term programmes of RS&T that deliver sector strategies and outcomes important to government and deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefit to New Zealand; and/or
2. support and maintain essential research infrastructure and associated activities that underpin RS&T outcomes in New Zealand by ensuring:
   • the preservation of assets and associated activities, for example maintaining the viability and longevity of samples; and
   • the maintenance and development of assets and associated activities, for example adding new samples and data, and upgrading facilities.

The objectives of this process will be influenced by the implementation of the Crown Research Institutes Taskforce report.

Eligibility

Government would expect the majority of the RS&T funded by this tool to be led by research organisations, in particular, but not exclusive to, Crown Research Institutes, Universities and Independent Research Associations.

The following RS&T activities are eligible to receive funding under this tool:

For policy objective 1:

• Activities that are large in scale with respect to end-benefits and the size and complexity of the research effort required; and/or
• activities that have significant involvement by users in both governance (setting directions and quality measures, determining capability requirements, evaluating outcomes) and execution (in particular, technology transfer and application).

For policy objective 2:

• Activities that support research assets that:
  • are critical for the longer-term capabilities of New Zealand’s RS&T stakeholders; and