Pillar Investment Plans 2026–2031

About the Pillar Investment Plans

Commissioned by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology (SI&T) in March 2026 and developed by Research Funding New Zealand (RFNZ) with additional support from dedicated Pillar Advisory Groups, the Pillar Investment Plans provide a clear direction for funding priorities to researchers.

The 4 Pillar priority areas of focus and investment are:

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

The Plans describe the expected outcomes and objectives for each pillar of the SI&T funding system and provide a clear detailed 5-year framework for how pillar funding will be allocated to deliver government priorities.

The Pillar Investment Plans will guide investment across the science, innovation and technology system, including:

• Guiding funding decisions for Research Funding New Zealand, the Health Research Council, and the New Zealand Institute of Advanced Technology.
• Guiding decisions for other SI&T funding not administered by RFNZ, including funding for Public Research Organisations, research infrastructure and workforce capability development.
• Informing investment decisions from industry and the wider SI&T sector where alignment to public investment will create greater returns for New Zealand.

We anticipate that these Plans will be updated in 2027, including further refinement and detailed funding allocation per outcome, following advice to the Minister from Prime Minister's Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council (PMSITAC) and RFNZ on:

• Research workforce and capability development
• Research infrastructure
• Future settings for investigator-led and mission-led funding
• SI&T system performance monitoring

Pillar Advisory Groups

The RFNZ Ministerial Advisory Group established four Pillar Advisory Groups to support them in developing advice to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology on the thematic pillars of the new SI&T funding system. The Pillar Advisory Groups supported RFNZ with input from industry and other research users, as well as specific scientific and technical expertise relevant to each pillar with the development the Pillar Investment Plans. These groups drew on their own knowledge and lead a series of targeted engagement with research and wider sector stakeholders.