Endeavour Fund

The Endeavour Fund plays a unique role in the science system through an open, contestable process with a focus on both research excellence and a broad range of impacts.

The Fund encourages researchers to consider a diverse range of ideas and conduct excellent research, with transformational potential. It will provide the highest potential impacts across a range of economic, environmental and societal objectives, and give effect to Vision Mātauranga.

Vision Mātauranga booklet [PDF, 418 KB]

Endeavour Fund Investment Plan 2022-2024 [PDF, 1.3 MB]

Endeavour Fund 2024 Investment Round Gazette Notice(external link) — New Zealand Gazette

The funding available

Endeavour funding is available through 2 mechanisms:

  • Smart Ideas
  • Research Programmes

Applications for funding are invited annually.

Smart Ideas

This investment mechanism catalyses and rapidly tests promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to enable refresh and diversity in the science portfolio. Applicants can request between $0.4 million to $1 million, for a term of 2 or 3 years.

The indicative investment for Smart Ideas in the 2024 investment round is $18 million per year.

Research Programmes

This investment mechanism supports ambitious, excellent, and well-defined research ideas which, collectively, have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth or critical need. Applicants can request $0.5 million or more per year, for a term of 3, 4 or 5 years.

The indicative investment for Research Programmes in the 2024 investment round is $39 million per year.

See the Endeavour Fund Investment Plan 2022-2024 and 2024 Gazette Notice below for details on the policy objectives, investment signals, funding targets and the amounts of money available for the Endeavour Fund.

Who can apply

Proposals need to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Gazette Notice.

2024 Gazette Notice(external link) — New Zealand Gazette

Investment decisions

The Science Board makes its investment decisions in accordance with the Gazette Notice.

The Science Board’s funding decisions are informed by the reviews of independent assessors.

When making its investment decisions, the Science Board may decide to invest less than the total amounts indicated and may move funds between the investment mechanisms.

Contact us

For more information, email: 

endeavour@mbie.govt.nz  

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Last updated: 31 August 2023