Current open call
Catalyst: Leaders Hōngongoi July Call opens July 30th.
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Royal Society Te Apārangi has now closed the Kohi-tātea January Call 2026. The Hōngongoi July Call 2026 will open on 30 July 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 |
|
JSPS HOPE Meeting |
Supports excellent PhD students and young researchers to attend the HOPE Meetings with Nobel Laureates in Japan | 5 days | Flights, accommodation and meeting registration | Up to 5 |
| 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 Hōngongoi July 2026 Call, alignment to the Catalyst Fund priority research areas does not apply to the bilateral Sub-Programmes. The New Zealand - China Scientist Exchange Programme has its own research priorities as specified in the call guidelines.
Closing Date
- Applications to all programmes open on Thursday 30 Hōngongoi July 2026.
- Closing Date: Thursday 22 Whiringa-ā-Nuku October 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 July 2026
- For inquiries, please contact International.Applications@royalsociety.org.nz