HRC Project Grants
Supports New Zealand investigators with project funding for biomedical, public health, and clinical studies designed for real-world implementation.
⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) Project Grants is the principal investigator-initiated mechanism for funding discrete biomedical, public health, and clinical research projects with the potential to vastly improve health outcomes for New Zealanders. The HRC was established under the Health Research Council Act 1990 and is governed by a ten-member Council accountable to the Minister of Health. The 2026 Project Grants round ran an Expression of Interest stage from 14 August to 17 September 2025, followed by a full application window from 6 November to 11 December 2025; the round is now closed.
Awards are up to NZD 1,200,000, with a typical project duration of three years and duration negotiable up to five years. Eligible applicants are universities, research organisations, and nonprofits based in New Zealand; for-profit organisations are ineligible. Applications are submitted through the HRC Gateway portal at gateway.hrc.govt.nz. The scheme covers all major health research domains including biomedical science, clinical research, public health, Māori health, and Pacific health. Unlike the Health Delivery Projects round, there is no requirement for Named Investigators in healthcare delivery settings, making this the standard entry point for laboratory, population, and clinical research teams.
The 2027 Project Grants round is expected to follow a similar annual calendar, with an EOI window anticipated in mid-2026 and full applications in late 2026. Teams that were shortlisted in prior rounds but not funded are encouraged to address reviewer feedback before resubmitting. The HRC's evaluation criteria emphasise scientific quality, research priority for New Zealand, the capability of the research team, and the feasibility of the plan. Proposals addressing health disparities for Māori and Pacific populations receive additional scrutiny through the HRC's specialist sub-committees and are evaluated on the appropriateness of community engagement and the potential for equity impact.
Biomedical, public health, clinical research with potential to vastly improve NZ health outcomes.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline