Student Grants

R&D Experience Grants

open this image in new window: RandD Experience Grants

Bring smart, enthusiastic and fresh thinking into your R&D activities with support provided by tertiary students in their summer break.

2019/2020 business applications for R&D Experience Grant open on 1 May. Student eligibility criteria has changed, see ‘Who can apply?’ below for more information.

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How can the grant help me?

The R&D Experience Grant is an internship designed as full-time work experience during the student summer break.

The student is expected to help you with an R&D project or activity.

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How does it work?

Your business will receive funding of $8,460 (plus GST) for 400 hours of full-time work upon proof of your payment to the student.

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Who can apply?

For businesses

To apply for an R&D Experience 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 Experience Grant internship, students must:

  • Be studying, or have recently completed, an undergraduate or postgraduate degree or qualification at NZQA level 7-10. If study has been completed, the closing date of your final semester should be less than 6 months ago.
  • Be studying science, technology, engineering, design or business at a New Zealand tertiary education institute.
  • Be legally permitted to work in New Zealand.
  • Not have been previously employed at the business unless part-time or temporary.
  • Not have undertaken more than two Experience Grant internships with the same business.

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How do I apply?

For Business 

Applications are open from 1 May to 31 August. Talk to us and we’ll help you through the process. Phone Callaghan Innovation on 0800 4 CALLAGHAN (0800 422 552).

Guidance material will be available soon.

For Students

Students apply directly to businesses. Businesses will advertise their R&D Experience Grant internships from May. Students may find internships through:

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Further information

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

For more information, contact us.

Updated: 17 April 2019