New to R&D Grant

New to R&D Eligibility

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Eligibility Criteria: Who is the New to R&D Grant for?

It’s crucial that you read and understand the criteria below before deciding to apply for the New to R&D Grant. Very early in the application process, your company’s eligibility will be assessed and validated and your application will not be considered if you are not eligible.

To apply for a New to R&D Grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Your business must not have received any government funding for R&D greater than $5,000 on or since 1 July 2019 including Callaghan Innovation grants or loan, the Research and Development Tax Incentive, the R&D Loss Tax Credit or any other government funding intended to support R&D. 
  • Your business must have spent less than $50,000 in total on R&D over the last three years
  • You must be able to fund your share of the R&D costs

If you are part of a corporate group containing other R&D performing businesses, you may not be eligible to apply. You will be assessed on whether you have access to the capabilities of those businesses to assist you with your R&D. See our grouping guidance here.


To be eligible, your business must also be one of the following:

  • A Company incorporated and registered in New Zealand under the Companies Act 1993 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
  • A Limited Partnership registered in New Zealand under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that is not controlled by the government or one or more government agencies; or
  • A Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, or a similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership.
     

The following businesses are not eligible for the New to R&D Grant:

  • Local authorities and Local and Regional Promotional Bodies
  • State Owned Enterprises, Crown Entities, Government departments or agencies, Public Finance Act 1989 Schedule 4A companies
  • Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)
  • Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) including foreign-owned TEOs
  • Entities controlled by any of the above (control means 50% or more of shares or voting interests in another entity or control of appointments to an entity’s controlling board)
  • Sole traders
  • Charitable trusts 
  • Partnerships
  • Joint Ventures
  • Look through companies
  • Companies incorporated in another country but registered to do business in New Zealand(registered under the Overseas Register – ASIC or NON-ASIC) 

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Updated: 25 January 2023