Student Grants

R&D Career Grants

open this image in new window: RandD Careers Grants

Add a PhD or masters graduate to your R&D team to stimulate innovation.

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How can the grant help me?

The R&D Career Grant is an internship designed to bridge the first six months of employment-gaining work experience for recent PhD or masters graduate students. 

The student is expected to support your business in solving an R&D problem faced in the development of a new product, process or service.

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How does it work?

Your business will receive the first six months of the student’s annual salary costs up to: 

  • $30,000 (plus GST) for a masters graduate (based on annual salary of $60,000)
  • $35,000 (plus GST) for a PhD graduate (based on an annual salary of $70,000)

Businesses can apply for an R&D Career Grant as soon as they identify a suitable student. 

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Who can apply?

For businesses

To apply for an R&D Career Grant, your business must be one of the following:

  • Registered under the Companies Act.
  • Registered under the Limited Partnerships Act.
  • A Māori incorporation or trust established under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, a trust set up to manage assets as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement, a Māori statutory body, or a business controlled by one or more of these entities.

To qualify, your business must also:

  • Have an active R&D programme i.e. a R&D budget and R&D staff
  • Meet financial due diligence requirements.

For students

To be eligible for an R&D Career Grant internship, students must:

  • Be about to complete, or have recently completed, a masters or PhD degree in science, technology, engineering, design or business ie have submitted a thesis for marking (or completed course requirement for taught masters) less than 12 months ago
  • Have undertaken the study at a New Zealand tertiary institution if you are not a New Zealand citizen 
  • Be legally permitted to work in New Zealand
  • Not have been employed in the industry under a professional arrangement related to your area of study except temporary, part-time or at a tertiary organisation
  • Not have been previously employed at the business – unless this was short-term employment (eg over the summer break).

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How do I apply?

For businesses

Talk to us and we’ll help you through the process. Phone Callaghan Innovation on 0800 4 CALLAGHAN (0800 422 552).

For students

Businesses will be looking for students all year round. Students can find interested businesses through:

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Career Grant guides

FileCareer Grant - Application Guidelines and Template

PDF iconCareer Grant - Funding Agreement

PDF iconCareer Grant - Information for Students

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Further information

Answers to frequently asked questions about Career Grants can be found at Student Grant FAQs.

For more information, contact us.

We have found the R&D Career Grant a great way to find specialist advanced skills that increase our capability in strategically important areas.

Barbara Webster, GM Business Development & Innovation - Scott Technology

Updated: 13 August 2018