Funding & get involvedPūtea me te whai wāhi
Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge invests in two types of research projects - Seed and Spearhead projects. In the final two years of the Challenge, we have invested in high-impact spin-off projects from our Spearheads (Ending with Impact Projects), plus Early Career Researchers from within our projects with the potential to lead an extension to their existing work (Early Career Researcher 'Bolt-on' Projects).
Seed project fund
The Seed project fund is intended to bring in new ideas and new researchers to the SfTI community. Our Seed projects are: smaller, high risk, technically complex projects based on ideas developed by researchers themselves.
Funded for up to two years with a maximum of $200,000 per project. Since 2016 SfTI has funded 86 Seed projects, with funding rounds typically held every year. Applications for our last Seed Project Funding round closed on the 18th of June 2021, resulting in 15 projects. The 2021 Seed project fund is the last round of funding available during the National Science Challenges ten year term, 2014-2024.
Connect with a Seed project
If you would like to express an interest in being part of a current Seed project, you can do so any time by contacting the lead researcher, their names can be found on the Seed project page and contact details can be found on their institution’s website.
Spearhead projects
Spearheads projects are large Mission-led research projects developed in consultation with Maōri and industry. The projects span more than three years and are funded up to $1m per annum. They are made up of cross-disciplinary, multi-organisational research teams that are formed through a Mission Design process.
Learn more about how we develop our Spearhead projects
Connect with a current Spearhead project
If you would like to express an interest in being part of a current Spearhead project, you can do so any time by contacting the lead researcher, their names can be found on the Spearhead project page, and contact details can be found on their institution’s website.