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Immediate Opportunity: Up to $11,960 in Government Funding for NZ Businesses
New Zealand businesses looking to accelerate their product roadmaps, conduct crucial scientific testing, or build cutting-edge software have a strict deadline approaching. Applications for the Callaghan Innovation R&D Experience Grant close sharply at 9:00 AM on Monday, 24 August 2026. This popular funding scheme provides up to $11,960 per student intern to cover 10 weeks (400 hours) of research and development work over the upcoming summer break.
Key Breakdown: Funding Amount and Hours
The R&D Experience Grant is designed to give tertiary students practical experience while offsetting innovation costs for Kiwi companies. The grant funds full-time summer work, structured around the following terms:
- Total Grant Value: Up to $11,960 per student.
- Hourly Rate: Funded at $29.90 per hour (comprising a $26.00/hour stipend plus 15% to cover statutory costs and holiday pay).
- Duration: 10 weeks of full-time work (400 total hours per student) during the summer university break.
- Allocations: Eligible businesses can apply for funding for multiple student interns depending on company size and project scope.
Who is Eligible? Business Criteria
To qualify for the $11,960 per intern funding, your business must meet specific operational criteria set by Callaghan Innovation:
- Entity Status: Must be a registered New Zealand company, limited partnership, or incorporated society.
- Active R&D Presence: Must have an ongoing research and development program operating within New Zealand.
- Supervisory Capability: Must provide a dedicated, qualified supervisor to guide the student’s work throughout the 10-week placement.
- Financial Viability: Must be capable of paying the student directly before claiming reimbursement via the grant portal.
What Qualifies as R&D?
Callaghan Innovation defines eligible R&D work fairly broadly across various industries, provided the work focuses on resolving technological or scientific uncertainty. Eligible student intern projects include:
- Software & App Development: Developing novel algorithms, architecture testing, or building MVP functionality.
- Engineering & Prototyping: CAD modeling, physical prototype fabrication, hardware testing, and iterative design improvements.
- Biotechnology & AgTech: Laboratory testing, field trials, biochemical formulation research, and data gathering.
- Process Innovation: Creating new, proprietary manufacturing processes or industrial workflows to solve unique technical challenges.
Note: Standard business operations, routine maintenance, administrative tasks, and digital marketing work do not qualify as eligible R&D.
How to Prepare Your Application Before 9:00 AM
With the 24 August 2026 9:00 AM deadline looming, business owners and technical leads should act immediately. Follow these actionable steps to ensure your application is logged successfully:
- Log into the IMS Portal: Access Callaghan Innovation’s Engagement and Funding Portal to initiate your application.
- Define the R&D Scope: Clearly articulate the technical challenge the intern will help address and the exact learning outcomes planned.
- Specify Student Requirements: Identify the specific academic discipline required (e.g., Software Engineering, Data Science, Chemistry).
- Submit Early: Due to potential traffic spikes on the submission portal on Monday morning, submit your application well before the 9:00 AM cutoff.
Why Auckland & NZ Businesses Should Act Now
Securing an R&D Experience Grant gives Kiwi companies a zero-risk mechanism to trial emerging talent while advancing high-value commercial projects. Successful applicants not only gain immediate technical capacity over the summer period but also build direct recruitment pipelines with top tertiary institutions across New Zealand. Ensure your business does not miss the hard deadline at 9:00 AM on 24 August 2026.
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