Current funding available
For research organisations
A large portion of the Foundation's investment funds are awarded to research organisations - Crown research institutes, universities and private research companies - that conduct public good, science and technology (PGST) research projects.
The priority research areas that we invest in, as determined in the Government's 2010 Budget, are outlined here.
What is public good, science and technology research?
Public good, science and technology research:
- is likely to increase knowledge and understanding of the physical, biological, cultural or social environment
- maintains or builds research skills and scientific expertise of importance to New Zealand
- is of benefit to New Zealand, but is unlikely to be funded from non-governmental sources.
Type of public good, science and technology research we invest in
Most of the research we invest in is defined as 'basic-targeted' or 'applied'. This means it is being carried out to deliver a benefit. Research to uncover knowledge which may have no commercial application is called basic-untargeted research. If you want to carry out basic-untargeted research, visit the Marsden Fund’s website for funding opportunities.
Types of research
- basic-untargeted: experimental or theoretical research to acquire new knowledge with no particular application in mind
- basic-targeted: experimental or theoretical research to acquire new knowledge focused on a strategic need
- applied: original investigation to acquire new knowledge, directed towards a specific practical aim and developed into operational form
- experimental development: research drawing on existing knowledge directed towards producing new materials, products and devices; or installing new or substantially improving existing processes, systems and service (not method development)
- product development: technical development of products, processes and services (including prototype development) for commercialisation.