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• cannot withstand discontinuity of funding without their integrity being irrevocably compromised; and
• cannot be better managed by other available funding mechanisms.

Other Parameters
In receiving funding under policy objective 1 of this tool, entities will become accountable for producing outcomes by:

• using implementation pathways that aim to maximise benefits for New Zealand; and
• delivering RS&T that meets appropriate international standards.

Relationship to Previous Investment Types
The Foundation has historically invested in this area using:

• Backbone Research.
• Stable Funding environment 1 and 2.
• Outcome based investments.

Science-led Contestable Funding
Policy Objectives
A contestable process to support the outcomes sought through the Ministerial Directions for Vote RS&T funds and to generate economic, environmental or social benefits for New Zealand.

The tool will fund RS&T that has the potential to:

• enhance the productivity of established industries;
• generate new industries for New Zealand;
• add new value to public services in New Zealand; or
• develop world leading technological capabilities by supporting research programmes to develop technology able to support a range of applications, products and services.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to receive funding under this tool, entities must:

• have the capability to provide basic-targeted and/or applied RS&T.

Parameters

• RS&T projects and programmes supported under this tool will tend to be short to medium term.
• There will be a focus on excellent research as assessed by the quality of the available capabilities, research management processes and potential impact of the targeted outcomes.
• Government would expect the majority of the RS&T supported by this tool would be led by research organisations, in particular, but not exclusive to, Crown Research Institutes, Universities and Independent Research Associations.

Relationship to Previous Investment Types
The Foundation has historically invested in this area using:

• New Economy Research.
• Transformational RS&T.
• Contestable investment processes.

Commercialisation and Technology Transfer Support
Policy Objectives
The objective of this tool is to increase the benefit New Zealand derives from publicly funded RS&T outputs.

Objectives
The objectives of this tool are to improve the ability of:

1. research organisations to commercialise the results of their RS&T:
   • via existing businesses and industry organisations; and/or
   • in the absence of a well-established industry, through the creation of new commercial entities; and
2. research users to access the skills, knowledge and results generated by publicly funded RS&T.

Eligibility Criteria
For objective 1:
Research organisations are eligible to receive funding under this tool to support:

• Activities that develop publicly funded RS&T to an "investor ready" point, including:
  • Experimental development and related pre-commercial activities.
  • Activities that raise research providers’ commercial capabilities and skills.
  • Activities that improve links between publicly funded research providers and potential private sector partners.

For objective 2:
RS&T users are eligible to receive funding under this tool to support:

• improved science input from research organisations to their activities, including decision making;
• an increase in their engagement with the RS&T sector; and
• greater collective engagement between research users and the science system generally.

Other Parameters

• Co-funding is required for funding going to research organisations and their offices.
• Research users may include regional councils.
• Some activities funded under this initiative may be devolved to research organisations.

Relationship to Previous Investment Types
The Foundation has historically invested in this area using:

• Pre-Seed Accelerator fund.
• Envirolink.

Partnerships
Policy Objectives
The objective of this tool is to invest in RS&T and related activities that increase competitiveness in New Zealand industry by increasing investment in RS&T through the development of ongoing partnerships with research organisations. The partnerships should:

• provide for early and ongoing user engagement in RS&T so as to increase the likelihood of developing successful commercial applications from research outcomes; and
• develop user-capability in engaging productively with researchers, thereby encouraging an increase in the level of private investment in New Zealand-based RS&T.

Key Parameters

• Co-funding is required.

Eligibility Criteria
Partnering arrangements led by research users and involving research organisations.

Central and local government agencies are not eligible to receive funding under this initiative, although they can contribute to partnering arrangements.

The proposed RS&T and related activities must:

• address a specific user problem or opportunity for which solutions are likely to increase productivity and profitability;
• incorporate clearly defined pathways to implementation and commercialisation for their intended research outcomes; and