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.
- Applicants must use the funding to undertake one or more of the following activities:
- 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.