Changes to the Research, Science and Innovation portfolio

On 28 August 2023, the former Minister of Finance, Hon Grant Robertson, announced a number of savings that had been agreed by Cabinet across different portfolios.  This included $115.28m from the Research, Science and Innovation (RSI) portfolio.

Immediate savings exercise – Summary of initiatives [664 KB PDF](external link)  — Beehive 

For completeness, the affected RSI funds and grants included in this savings exercise are as follows.  These savings were agreed to by Cabinet as the funds were uncommitted at the point of the savings being taken.

• Unlocking Curious Minds: from 2024/25 (funding ends June 2024)
• Participatory Science Platforms: from 2024/25 (funding ends June 2024)
• Partnered Research Fund: from 2025/26 (funding ends June 2025)
• Strategic Science Investment Fund: (funding previously allocated to Kauri Dieback disease) from 2023/24 (contract ends March 2024)
• Underspends from Callaghan grants in 2023/24 (Student Grants, New to R&D Grants, Arohia Grant)

MBIE will be contacting parties who have existing contracts under these funds to discuss any transitional implications.