To lift the performance of the science and innovation system, the Government is working to improve commercialisation outcomes from publicly funded research.
The Government is incentivising the commercialisation of publicly funded research by introducing a new Intellectual Property Management Policy and a set of Commercialisation Engagement Guidelines, and by investing $40.68 million of additional funding over 3 years to support the commercialisation of university research.
The Government has introduced a national Intellectual Property (IP) Management Policy that gives more rights to researchers to commercialise their own inventions.
The Policy sets out how universities, Public Research Organisations, and other research organisations should manage IP that is created or supported by government funding received through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio. It will be phased in through relevant funding contracts from 1 July 2026.
Intellectual Property (IP) Management Policy
MBIE’s Commericalisation Engagement Guidelines support researchers, institutions, and technology transfer offices to navigate commercialisation. They provide helpful, easy-to-use advice tailored for New Zealand’s distinct research and commercialisation environment.
These Guidelines sit alongside New Zealand’s Intellectual (IP) Management Policy, which sets expectations around how universities, Public Research Organisations, and other organisations should manage IP that is generated as a result of government funding received through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.
Commercialisation Engagement Guidelines
The Government has introduced enhancements to the Commercialisation Partner Network programme that provide additional funding for building researcher capability and supporting commercialisation by university researchers. Universities are required to match this funding with co-investment from their own resources.
The initiative will begin with a pilot in 2026/27, ahead of full investment from 1 July 2027. This funding complements broader changes supporting science-led start-ups as part of the Government’s science sector reforms.
Government boost to commercialise university research
Cabinet paper seeking agreement to a national Intellectual Property management policy for universities and Public Research Organisations.
PDF, 409KB, 20 pages
Cabinet agreed to a national Intellectual Property management policy for universities and Public Research Organisations.
PDF, 317KB, 4 pages
This Ministerial briefing provides options for ensuring university researchers that have generated an invention have access to high-quality commercialisation support.
PDF, 520KB, 24 pages
This Ministerial briefing provides advice and next steps for developing a joint package of start-up support across the Science, Innovation and Technology (SI&T) and Economic Growth portfolios
PDF, 355KB, 12 pages
This diagram accompanies the Ministerial briefing on SI&T components of a start-up support package.
PDF, 58KB, 1 page
Briefing seeking approval of key amendments to the draft national Intellectual Property Management Policy for universities and Public Research Organisations.
PDF, 388KB, 12 pages
This Ministerial briefing provides advice on how the increase of $40.68 million for university research commercialisation be allocated.
PDF, 515KB, 11 pages
Briefing seeking approval of the proposed final Policy, and related delegations.
PDF, 287KB, 13 pages
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https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/refocusing-the-science-innovation-and-technology-system/research-commercialisation
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