The Government has allocated $40.7 million over three years to support universities in commercialising their research.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Penny Simmonds announced the funding alongside new intellectual property rules that come into force on 1 July 2026. The policy changes give researchers greater control over their inventions.
The money will be provided through upgrades to the Commercialisation Partner Network programme, with universities expected to match Government contributions with their own investment. A trial phase will operate during 2026/27, with full funding rounds starting from 1 July 2027.
Simmonds said "the new national Intellectual Property Management Policy for publicly funded research will unlock the commercial potential of New Zealand's world-class research, accelerate economic growth and deliver real benefits for Kiwis".
"These changes put researchers in the driver's seat, giving them greater control over their inventions and stronger incentives to turn great ideas into global opportunities," she said.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has created new commercialisation engagement guidelines in collaboration with the sector. Both the IP policy and guidelines can be accessed on the MBIE website.