News
Published 14 October 2025Government to establish a new organisation for research funding
The Government has announced today that it will establish Research Funding New Zealand – a new Board that will take over most decisions about research funding, including for the Marsden Fund, the Endeavour Fund, and the Strategic Science Investment Fund. Funding is also expected to be transferred from the Health Research Council to Research Funding NZ, with the entire transition phased over 4 years.
The Society will be accepting proposals for research grants from the Marsden Fund in 2026 as planned; however, as previously announced, the total amount available for new grants in 2026 has been reduced. At the end of the 2026 process, the Marsden Fund Council will make its recommendations to Research Funding NZ, rather than to the Society. Future rounds will be administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, with final investment decisions made by the new Board.
The Society will work with the Marsden Fund Council and with MBIE to manage this transition over the coming years, including management of existing research grants.
The Society’s other contracts to deliver activities for the Government will not be affected. These include the Science Media Centre, Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships, the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes, the Science Teaching Leadership Programme, ORCID, and the Catalyst Fund.
Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding, President of the Society, says “We are encouraged by the Minister’s statement that the Government values fundamental, curiosity-driven research and intends to continue to support it. This type of research is absolutely critical to the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are also very supportive of a streamlined funding system with clear strategic priorities.”
“The Society was contracted to administer the Marsden Fund to ensure that investment decisions could be made independently. We are immensely proud of the benefits which the Marsden Fund has delivered for Aotearoa New Zealand over 30 years.”
“Although MBIE will take over administration of most research funding, we sincerely hope that the new Board will continue, as the Society has done, to make independent decisions based on high-quality peer review by local and international experts.”