Science Investment Plan 2026–2036

About the Science Investment Plan

The Science Investment Plan positions science and research as a powerful driver of economic transformation - supporting high-value jobs, lifting productivity and strengthening New Zealand’s international competitiveness while continuing to invest in fundamental and investigator-led research, stewardship and public good science.

The Plan provides: 

• Researchers with clear direction on priorities and stronger expectations to demonstrate impact
• Business with certainty on priority investment areas and opportunities to partner with research
• Investors with clear signals on emerging sectors with growth and export potential

Pillar priority areas

The Plan centres New Zealand’s science system around 4 Pillar priority areas of focus and investment:

1. Technology for Prosperity
2. Primary Industries and Bioeconomy
3. Environment Sustainability and Resilience
4. Healthy People and a Thriving Society

Technology for Prosperity supports innovation and capability across all pillars. Conversely, technologies developed to support specific sectors sit within their relevant pillar but can contribute to the outcomes of the Technology for Prosperity pillar.

Shifting funding to advanced technologies

Through the Plan investments within the Technology for Prosperity pillar will progressively increase so that by 2029/30 funding will be $122 million higher per year than it was in 2025/26. This approach shifts investment toward areas with the greatest potential for future productivity gains, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

This shift will be achieved through a targeted rebalancing of existing funding, with reduced investment in areas that have received sustained long-term support and where capability is already established, and/or there is greater scope for private-sector investment to take a leading role.