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New Zealand: Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery

Deadline: 28-Feb-23

The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment has launched the Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery, a $54 million contestable fund for projects that will have meaningful impact across the tourism system.

Purpose
  • The programme will co-fund grants for projects that:
    • seek to stimulate, catalyse or achieve transformative innovation
    • seek to deliver on the core values of tourism
    • seek to achieve at least one of the programme’s 5 outcomes, and
    • are applicable to the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey.
  • The definition of transformative innovation is a fundamental or disruptive shift towards new or different and better systems, business models, processes, experiences, or products that create a meaningful impact across the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey.
  • Transformative innovation projects will seek to:
    • deliver an innovation that is new/world first,
    • apply an existing innovation in a different way,
    • apply an overseas innovation to the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey,
    • apply an existing innovation across the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey.
  • The core values of tourism are:
    • Tiaki: Caring for and protecting people, place and planet for the future.
    • Pōtikitanga: The curious, ingenious and adventurous spirit.
    • Manaaki: Extending respect, hospitality, generosity and care to others.
    • Whanaungatanga: Creating a sense of connection, family and belonging.
Funding Streams

There are 2 funding streams:

  • Stream One: Discovery
    • Stream One will fund innovative, solution-based projects that may require further feasibility work to prepare a business case before applying for full development support.
    • Applicants can request between $10,000 and $25,000 to complete a Stream One project within 4 months. Applicants must co-fund at least 50% of their project’s costs.
    • Stream One has up to $1 million available for allocation.
  • Stream Two: Development
    • Stream Two will fund innovative, solutions-based projects that have a full business case.
    • Applicants can request between $100,000 and $10 million to complete a Stream Two project. Applicants must co-fund at least 50% of their project’s costs. Projects that have significant positive community-wide or sector-wide benefits may only be required to co-fund 25% of their project’s costs. All Stream Two project must be completed within two years.
    • Stream Two has up to $49.2 million available for allocation.
Outcomes
  • Reduce carbon emissions resulting from tourism or have a positive impact on the climate.
  • Improve the environmental sustainability of tourism through enhancing the natural environment and biodiversity.
  • Improve the resilience of tourism to future changes, impacts and shocks.
  • Lift productivity or capability of the tourism sector through technology.
  • Promote and protect Taonga Māori throughout the New Zealand-Aotearoa visitor journey (where the project is led or delivered by iwi / hapū or Māori enterprises).
What can the funding be used for?
  • Stream One: Discovery
    • Applicants must use the funding to undertake one or more of the following activities:
      • concept validation or testing,
      • concept development, including design sprints,
      • sourcing relevant expertise, partners, or skillsets to deliver the project,
      • consultancy support to develop a project plan,
      • acceleration or scaling up testing/advice, or
      • business/project plan preparation (e.g., staff time).
    • The activities may be delivered through an external accelerator or incubator programme with MBIE’s approval.
  • Stream Two: Development
    • There is no specific list of activities that the funding from Stream Two can be used for.
    • However, funding cannot solely be used for any of the following activities:
      • General ‘business as usual’
      • Upgrading a business or products to be more sustainable
      • Marketing or brand development
      • Drafting of Destination Management Plans
      • Retrospective costs
      • Qualifications
      • Infrastructure, such as carparks, toilet blocks or buildings.
Eligibility Criteria
  • The programme is open to individuals and organisations that can demonstrate:
    • A New Zealand presence, and
    • They have, or can source, co-funding to the required amount.
  • Applications for a project led by a group of individuals or businesses are also welcomed.
  • Central government agencies are not eligible for the programme’s funding.
Deadlines
  • 3 May 2023: Closing deadline for all Stream One Applications
  • 28 February 2023: Closing deadline for Stream Two Full Applications (successful EOIs by invitation) Round 1
  • 30 June 2023: Closing deadline for Stream Two Full Applications (successful EOIs by invitation) Round 2
  • 1 September 2023: Closing deadline for Stream Two Expressions of Interest
  • 31 October 2023: Closing deadline for Stream Two Full Applications (successful EOIs by invitation) Round 3

For more information, visit Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment.