Current open call
Catalyst: Leaders Kohi-tātea January Call is now open.
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Royal Society Te Apārangi has opened the Kohi-tātea January Call 2026.
Call for Catalyst: Leaders
Catalyst: Leaders supports incoming and outgoing targeted international fellowships for exceptional individuals that cannot be supported through other means.
Catalyst: Leaders provides funding for several Sub-Programmes. For detailed information please refer to the Catalyst Leaders guidelines available below.
Funding Available
|
Sub-Programmes |
||||
|
Type |
Brief Description |
Duration |
NZ$ Funding |
Awards available per call |
|
International Leader Fellowships*
|
Supports exceptional individuals from any country outside New Zealand to catalyse science and innovation capability and capacity in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year for up to 3 years | 1 to 3 years |
Per annum: $20,000 Research support $10,000 Host admin |
Up to 3 |
|
Julius von Haast Fellowship Award
|
Supports an internationally recognised researcher from Germany to undertake research in New Zealand for a minimum of 4 weeks per year | 3 years |
Per annum: $20,000 Salary support for Fellow $20,000 Research support $10,000 Host admin |
Up to 1 |
|
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Supports young and excellent New Zealand postdoctoral researchers doing research in Japan | 12 – 24 months | Flights, insurance and living allowance | Up to 4 |
| New Zealand-China Scientist Exchange Programme | Supports the development of research linkages with China by enabling New Zealand researchers to visit Chinese research organisations. | 4 weeks (2-6 weeks) | Flights and daily living allowance | Up to 10 |
* priority research areas apply
Eligibility
-
The Proposal must be made by a New Zealand-based research organisation or their representing legal entity, unless otherwise agreed by the Society
- In addition to meeting the general eligibility requirements, the Proposal must meet all specific Sub-Programme eligibility criteria listed in the Guidelines
Priority research areas
The Catalyst Fund investment plan released in December 2024, identifies six priority
research areas for the Fund. These are:
- Quantum technology
- Health and biomedicine
- Biotechnologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Antarctic research
- Space and Earth observations
Subject to the number and quality of submitted applications, at least 75% of awarded Catalyst: Leaders contracts are expected to align with the Catalyst Fund priority research areas, unless otherwise noted in the specific programme requirement for each Sub-Programme. The remaining 25% of awarded contracts can be in any field of research (including social sciences and the humanities).
For the Kohi-tātea January 2026 Call, alignment to the Catalyst Fund priority research areas applies only to the International Leadership Fellowships and not to the bilateral Sub-Programmes.
Closing Date
- Applications to all programmes opened on Thursday 29 Kohi-tātea January 2026.
- Closing Date: Thursday 23 Paenga-whāwhā April 2026, 12:00pm Noon (NZST).
Submit an Application
- Applications to all programmes must be made to the Royal Society Te Apārangi via the Catalyst: Portal, please contact your Research Office for a nomination to submit a proposal.
- Templates are available for downloading via the Catalyst: Portal.
- Please read carefully the Catalyst: Leaders Guidelines January 2026
- Applicants to the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Funds, please also read the JSPS combined guidelines FY2026 RSTA
- For inquiries, please contact International.Applications@royalsociety.org.nz