Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The New Zealand – China Strategic Research Alliance 2026 is a bilateral research funding programme designed to strengthen long-term scientific and innovation collaboration between New Zealand and China. It is jointly managed by New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The programme is funded through the Catalyst Strategic Fund and focuses on generating research outcomes that exceed what New Zealand could achieve independently.
Core Objective of the Programme
The primary goal is to build sustainable, high-quality research partnerships between New Zealand and leading Chinese research institutions. The programme emphasizes scientific excellence, international collaboration, and research that delivers meaningful global and national impact, particularly in areas where joint expertise can accelerate innovation and applied outcomes.
Priority Research Areas
Environmental Technologies
This priority area focuses on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and ecological systems. Key themes include:
- Clean and renewable energy technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Aquaculture adaptation to climate change impacts
- Effects of habitat and environmental change on bivalve spawning and juvenile survival
- Broader environmental resilience and ecological innovation
Health and Biomedical Science
This area focuses on improving human health outcomes through scientific research and innovation. Key themes include:
- Development of advanced methods for data collection, analysis, and characterisation
- Personalised approaches to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
- Understanding disease mechanisms and progression
- Reducing common risk factors for major diseases
- Exploration of traditional medicines for therapeutic applications
Funding Overview
The programme provides a total funding pool of up to $2.0 million over three years. It supports approximately six collaborative research projects across both priority areas. Each successful New Zealand-based research team can receive up to $330,000 over the three-year funding period. Chinese partners are required to secure their own funding through domestic funding systems in China.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include New Zealand-based research organisations or legal entities representing them. The Science Leader must be affiliated with a New Zealand research organisation. All proposals must include collaboration with a Chinese research institution, ensuring bilateral engagement. Additional international or private sector partners may be included if they strengthen the project’s impact and research quality.
Eligible Costs and Funding Use
Funding may be used for research-related and collaboration-related expenses. Eligible cost categories include:
- Research personnel salaries and contributions
- Consumables and laboratory or field research materials
- Travel and exchange costs between New Zealand and China
- Accommodation, visas, insurance, and subsistence (including meals)
Travel-related expenses are capped at 25% of the total project budget. Applicants are encouraged to include structured exchange visits to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing between partner institutions.
Programme Expectations and Competitive Nature
The programme is highly competitive, with historically low success rates. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong alignment with programme priorities, scientific excellence, and clear potential for meaningful international impact. Proposals should clearly show how collaboration between New Zealand and Chinese researchers will deliver outcomes beyond what could be achieved independently.
Key Evaluation Considerations
Applications are typically assessed on:
- Scientific excellence and innovation
- Strength of New Zealand–China collaboration
- Alignment with priority research themes
- Potential for real-world impact
- Strength of research design and methodology
- Capacity to deliver long-term partnership outcomes
Strategic Importance of the Programme
The initiative strengthens global scientific cooperation by linking New Zealand and Chinese research systems. It supports innovation in climate resilience, environmental adaptation, and healthcare advancement while fostering long-term institutional partnerships. The programme also helps accelerate solutions to global challenges through shared expertise and resources.
Conclusion
The New Zealand – China Strategic Research Alliance 2026 is a targeted international research funding programme supporting high-quality collaborative projects in environmental technologies and biomedical science. It prioritizes scientific excellence, bilateral cooperation, and long-term global impact, offering funding for research teams capable of delivering innovative solutions through strong New Zealand–China partnerships.
For more information, visit MBIE.