Business R&D Student Grants

R&D Experience Grant

Funds New Zealand for-profit companies hiring tertiary students into short-term R&D internship roles.

Eligibility · New Zealand only

The R&D Experience Grant is a non-dilutive salary grant administered by Callaghan Innovation (a New Zealand Crown entity) under the Business R&D Grants scheme, now managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) after Callaghan Innovation's disestablishment. The grant pays a NZ company to hire a tertiary student currently studying at NZQA Level 6-10 to work on the company's R&D project. Callaghan Innovation reimburses the student's wages at NZD $28.95 per hour for up to 400 hours worked, capped at NZD $11,580 (GST exclusive) per student.

The funding covers only the student's wages — not equipment, materials, or any other project cost. The student must be employed on the company's payroll (not as a contractor) and must physically work at the company's New Zealand premises unless Callaghan Innovation provides written consent for remote participation. A company can apply for multiple students but each internship is a separate funding agreement.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a company registered under the Companies Act 1993, a limited partnership, or a qualifying Maori entity. Government entities, crown entities, publicly-funded educational institutions, and companies incorporated overseas are all excluded. The company must have an active in-house R&D programme — work cannot be outsourced to a third party. The student must be currently studying or have completed study at NZQA Level 6-10 within the last 12 months, studying a STEM or business discipline at a NZ tertiary institution, and have appropriate immigration status to work in NZ.

Applications go through Callaghan Innovation's online grants portal. Once approved, the business signs a funding agreement, employs the student, and upon completion submits a final report and GST tax invoice with payslips. Payment is made as a single lump sum after the final report and invoice are received and approved.

Note: Callaghan Innovation is being progressively disestablished through 2026. R&D grant administration transferred to MBIE on 1 December 2025. The Experience Grant programme is continuing through this transition and remains open to applications.