New Zealand has announced the creation of a streamlined Transition Research Fund for 2027, designed to align science funding with national priorities and deliver outcomes that benefit the country. The fund was developed on advice from Research Funding New Zealand, the newly established science funding decision‑maker, and consolidates investigator‑led research into a single structure with three mechanisms: talent development, projects, and programmes.
The fund supports research from early discovery through to large‑scale programmes, with a strong focus on impact. Talent Development will nurture future research leaders, Projects will enable bold and innovative ideas, and Programmes will back collaborative research tackling complex challenges over the long term.
Public investment priorities recommended by the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council include primary industries and the bioeconomy, technology for prosperity, environmental sustainability and resilience, and healthy people and a thriving society. These priorities will be confirmed in the Science Investment Plan expected in mid‑2026.
The Transition Research Fund consolidates contestable funding previously delivered through the Marsden and Endeavour funds into a single investigator‑led framework. Applications will open later this year, with first‑year investment in 2027 reaching up to $84.4 million and a total of $300 million over five years.
Final funding decisions will be made by Research Funding New Zealand, ensuring all projects align with government priorities for science, innovation, and technology. This investment forms part of the broader appropriation for science and innovation, complementing existing commitments under Endeavour, Marsden, and other initiatives, with all current contracts continuing as agreed.
