New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology launches major AI investment

This investment, of up to $70 million over 7 years, will support ambitious, high-impact AI research that strengthens New Zealand’s capability in emerging technologies and unlocks new economic opportunities. It reflects the Government’s commitment to building a future-focused, resilient, and globally competitive science and innovation system.

The investment will build world-class AI research capability and create clear pathways from research to commercialisation. The initiative will be delivered through a two-phase process:

• Phase one: Around 5 proposals will be selected to receive seed funding.
• Phase two: Selected proposals will further develop their ideas and demonstrate their ability to form strong research–industry partnerships.

An independent expert panel will assess proposals at each stage.

Applications for the first phase are expected to open in late October, with further details available soon on the MBIE website. The final form of the AI investment will be confirmed in the first half of 2026, with funding beginning in July 2026.

The NZIAT is a new Public Research Organisation announced earlier this year as part of the most significant changes to New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology system in over 30 years. It is currently being incubated within MBIE and once established, will operate from a central hub in Auckland with a network of strategic research investments around the country in partnership with universities, industry and research institutions.

The AI investment follows NZIAT’s first initiative - a $71 million investment in an advanced technology science platform hosted by the Paihau—Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington, announced in May.

Read the Minister's announcement:

Accelerating AI research and innovation(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz

Further information about NZIAT and the other Public Research Organisations:

Public Research Organisations