Sources of Business Funding and Support

 

Find out how New Zealand government business grants work. 

We provide grant application and documentation services for:

Small Research & Development grants.
Large Research & Development grants.
Student grants for Research and Development.
Technology Transfer Vouchers for Research & Development.
Agricultural grants.
Energy grants.

Download a printer friendly version of this page here Business Grants 2011.pdf 
 

Energy Audits

Energy audits evaluate how efficiently energy is being used, and identify energy and cost-saving opportunities. Your business may be eligible for a grant for part of the cost of the energy audit if it spends more than $250,000 per year on energy. The grant is for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects only. The maximum amount of the grant is 33% of the cost of the audit, and the cap is 3% of your energy cost, to a maximum of $20,000 per site. Visit www.eecabusiness.govt.nz.  For further information and assistance applying for energy grants visit this page.
 

Energy Efficiency Grants 

Technology Implementation Grants are for firms that spend more than $250,000 per year on energy and have completed an energy management assessment. The maximum amount of the grant is 33%  of the cost of implementing the project to a maximum of $50,000 per site. Priority may be to businesses in specific industry sectors. Priority will be given to projects that have been identified in an energy audit, can be replicated across other businesses, involve new or under utilised technology and other criteria as published by EECA. Grants will be awarded through monthly allocation rounds, closing on the 20th day of each month, and will be allocated through a ranking process.  Visit www.eecabusiness.govt.nz.  For further information and assistance applying for energy grants visit this page.

Expansion Capital, Angel Investment, Venture Funding

For information about the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund visit www.nzvif.com  For contacts in the New Zealand venture capital and angel investor sector visit www.nzvca.co.nz,  For information on public listing and the stock exchange visit www.nzx.com. For start-up and business expansion training, advice and assistance visit the ICEHOUSE www.theicehouse.co.nz  For help preparing business plans for angel investment and capital raising visit this page.

Export Credit Office

The New Zealand Export Credit Office (NZECO) provides financial guarantee and trade credit insurance products for New Zealand exporters, banks and insurers. Our products help exporters and their banks manage risk and capitalise on trade opportunities around the globe, by enabling them to mitigate credit risk, secure export sales and access trade finance. As well as working directly with exporters, we work closely with commercial financiers in New Zealand and offshore to support and improve the competitiveness of New Zealand exporters. NZECO is currently located in the Treasury and obligations to third parties are guaranteed by the New Zealand government. Learn more about the Export Credit Office at www.nzeco.govt.nz  The Export Credit Office has underwritten over $1 billion in trade in recent years.



Export Market Development 

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) provides information and advice to New Zealand exporters. For example the Beachheads Programme gives high growth companies access to international networks. The International Growth Fund provides invited companies assistance with international market development. To learn more about NZTE's support programmes visit www.nzte.govt.nz  For help with export feasibility studies, export budgets, export plans and export market research, visit this page. 




Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property Office provides information on patents, trade marks and designs. Here you can search the registers, pay renewal fees, file trade mark applications, and find forms and guides on intellectual property in New Zealand. www.iponz.govt.nz 
 

Primary Growth Partnership

The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) aims to boost productivity across the primary sector.  The budget provides $50m over the 2011/2012 year and $70m over the 2012/2013 year.  Investment programmes will be funded 50:50 by industry and government.   Industries included are:

•     Pastoral (including wool) and arable production.
•     Horticulture.
•     Seafood (including aquaculture).
•     Forestry and wood products.
•     Food Processing (e.g. nutriceuticals).

An independent Investment Advisory Panel (IAP) has been established to call for expressions of interest in the funding. The minimum amount that the Primary Growth Partnership will co-invest, and which must be matched by industry co-investors, is $500,000 excluding GST over the lifetime of the co-investment programme.  Investments will focus on initiatives that deliver significant economic growth and sustainability across the primary sectors from producer to consumer. Investments can cover the whole of the value chain, including education, research and development, product development, commercialisation, market development and technology transfer. The next application round will occur in the second half of 2011.  For further information contact www.maf.govt.nz .  For further information and assistance applying for the Primary Growth Partnership visit this page.

Research and Development: TBG Grant 

The Technology for Business Growth, (TBG), grant provides co-funding to help firms do high risk, advanced R&D projects that they could not manage to undertake with their own resources. TBG applicants should be high growth and export focused. Grants are typically 50:50 and in excess of $30,000.    For further information and help applying for the TBG grant please visit this page.

Research and Development: Capability Funding

A network of "Regional Technology Partners" has been established to work with businesses undertaking early stage, or small R&D projects. Regional Technology Partners provide access to R&D funding up to a maximum of $30,000. Applicants will need to work with the closest Technology Partner in their region. Capability funding provides support for the following: (1) small to medium sized R&D projects; (2) technology expert input and advice; (3) projects involving university graduates and undergraduates; and (4) solving technical problems and evaluating technology options. For further information and help applying for this grant visit this page.

Research and Development: Technology Development Grant

The Technology Development Grant is targeted at medium to large, research-intensive firms. To qualify, firms must have a ratio of R&D expenditure to revenue of five percent or more, over a period of three years; and must have revenues of at least $3 million a year. They must have programmes of R&D that are likely to generate significant benefits for the wider economy via high-value products and services. The grant is equal to 20 percent of eligible expenditure of an R&D programme, up to $2.4 million (excluding GST) a year. Requests for proposals are annual. In 2010 26 firms received the grant. In 2011 19 firms received the grant. For more information about this grant contact www.msi.govt.nz.  For help applying for this grant contact us.

Research and Development: Technology Transfer Vouchers

The Technology Transfer Vouchers will be typically worth $30,000 to $200,000 and enable firms to work with public research organisations including Universities and Crown Research Institutes. The launch of the Technology Transfer Vouchers is planned for November 2010. Initially, Vouchers will be targeted at businesses requiring R&D services in the high-value manufacturing and services sectors only. Priority areas include novel materials, manufacturing and applications; health and medical technologies; information communications and digital technologies. For further information and help applying for this grant visit this page.



Research and Development: Student Projects, Experts

Student research projects and expert advice can be funded through the Technology New Zealand Capability funding programme. Up to $25,000 per annum is available. For further information contact www.msi.govt.nz.  For further information and help applying for student R&D grants visit this page.

  

Research and Development Tax Credits

R&D Tax Credits are not currently available.  For  a  description of  the  R&D tax credit scheme for the  2008-2009 income year visit our R&D Tax Credit page.   For further information contact www.ird.govt.nz.

 
Research and Development:  Start-Ups

In November 2011 the Ministry of Science and Innovation announced it will be offering start-ups, research and development grants of up to $50,000.  Endowments will be offered to companies working with a business incubator.  There are eight business incubators around New Zealand.

Start-up Capital

The Accelerator programme at the ICEHOUSE helps companies  prepare for angel investment. Contact  www.theicehouse.co.nz. For help preparing business plans for start-up capital visit this page

Special Purpose Funds

Special purpose funds and special sector funds are available to businesses. To learn more about these funding sources please contact us.

 

This page was last updated on 1 November 2011

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