Deadline: 2-Jul-25
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is inviting proposals for joint research partnerships between New Zealand and Chinese research organisations.
The New Zealand – China Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) is an annual joint funding programme funded by the Catalyst Strategic Fund. It is a bilateral initiative between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).
This opportunity is open to New Zealand research organisations for projects that align with the objective of developing enduring science and innovation collaborative partnerships with world-class Chinese research organisations on topics important to both countries. Activities must significantly broaden and deepen collaborative research partnerships between China and New Zealand.
Research Areas
- The specific research areas are below:
- Clean and renewable energy technologies
- Research of technologies to harness renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power, as well as improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Climate change adaptation technologies
- Research of technologies to help communities and ecosystems adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing ecosystems.
- Climate change mitigation technologies
- Research of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or prevent future climate change impacts.
- Carbon dioxide capture and conversion technologies
- Research of technologies to capture CO₂ from source, and then either store it or convert it into useful products.
- Novel technologies for biodegradation or elimination of emerging pollutants in vivo
- Research of new technologies to break down or remove emerging pollutants, such as microplastics or persistent organic pollutants, from within living organisms.
- Clean and renewable energy technologies
Funding Information
- MBIE has made up to $1.2M (excluding GST) in total over three years available for investment in joint research partnerships between New Zealand and China.
- MBIE and MoST have agreed to support four projects through this funding round in the priority area of Environmental Technologies. Up to $300,000 (excluding GST) over three years is available for the New Zealand research partners of each successful project.
Eligibility Criteria
- For a proposal to be assessed it must meet the eligibility criteria set out below.
- The proposal must be made by a New Zealand-based research organisation or a New Zealand-based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organization.
- The proposal must be for research in one of the specified research areas for this call (Environmental Technologies)
- The Science Leader must be employed by a New Zealand-based research organisation, or a New Zealand- based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organization.
- The proposal must involve collaboration from a Chinese research organisation (your Chinese partners must apply for their own funding through MoST).
- Proposals must not benefit a Russian state institution (including but not limited to support for Russian military or security activity) or an organisation outside government that may be perceived as contributing to the war effort.
For more information, visit MBIE.