Research commercialisation funds

These research commercialisation funds aim to build a more connected, purposeful and high-performing science, innovation and technology system, delivering greater impact from public investment in research. The CPN and the PSAF strengthen the pathways, capability, and incentives needed to turn publicly funded research into commercial outcomes. Together, they support a more coherent end-to-end commercialisation system.

The CPN is intended to help researchers, research organisations, and businesses better identify and capture market opportunities, with a vision of a connected ecosystem of researchers, research organisations, investors, and entrepreneurs that actively drives innovation and wealth creation.

The PSAF works alongside the CPN; the CPN builds capability and the PSAF provides project funding. The PSAF’s primary objective is to fund early-stage commercialisation activities that maximise the commercial benefits to New Zealand from publicly funded research.

CPN and PSAF 2027 investment round

The 2027 investment round brings some changes to the interaction between CPN and PSAF.

• The CPN’s Commercialisation Partners scheme will invest in organisations that will provide external expert advice to commercialisation projects derived from publicly funded research. It aims to maintain and strengthen the national network and enable effective delivery of government support, including the PSAF.
• CPN Capability Developers scheme, new for 2027, invests in providers delivering training and skill-building activities for researchers, and leveraging commercialisation experts, investors, and mentors with experience and interest in building capability of researchers.
• The University Commercialisation Centres scheme invests in centres that provide university researchers with access to commercialisation support and aims to increase overall investment in commercialisation from universities. It expects centres to take a system-wide approach, collaborating and sharing expertise to support the commercialisation of publicly funded research across New Zealand.
• The PSAF operates as a devolved funding model. Successful applicants to the CPN Partners scheme will be invited to a closed application process to administer PSAF funding. PSAF funding can be used to support commercialisation projects that result from any publicly funded research or any publicly funded research capability.

Calls for proposals to the CPN schemes and to the PSAF will be published by the end of November 2026.

Funding available

From 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2029, up to $18.27 million (excluding GST) per year will be available across the three CPN schemes:

• $4.77 million (indicative) for Commercialisation Partners.  
• $4 million (indicative) for Capability Developers. 
• $9.5 million (indicative) for University Commercialisation Centres.

Funding applications can be made to one or more CPN scheme.

From 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2029, up to $10 million (excluding GST) per year will be available for PSAF. The amount of the PSAF funding allocated to a PSAF administrator will be determined based on expected demand for funding from that PSAF administrator, as well as the expected performance of that PSAF administrator in pipeline management and achieving a return on investment from its PSAF allocation. 

Reporting and monitoring requirements

Existing CPN and PSAF contract holders are required to report on the status of their contracted work programmes on a six monthly basis with reporting dates detailed in their contracts.
 
See the reporting templates to find out what information you need to provide, how to submit your report, and how your report will be assessed.

More information

Email CPN@mbie.govt.nz or PreSeed@mbie.govt.nz

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