$241m to help transition to low emission economy

The Government is investing $241 million in leading research projects to help find new ways to address long-term issues like increasing sources of renewable energy and growing knowledge-intensive industries.

Among this year’s 71 projects awarded grants under the Endeavour Fund is a GNS Science one to develop nano-catalytic surfaces for efficient, stable fuel cells and eco-friendly hydrogen production ($999,987), expected to aid fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Another is a University of Canterbury project for integrated biomass gasification with chemical looping and oxygen uncoupling for hydrogen production and CO2 capture ($999,999).

The Endeavour Fund uses an open, contestable process to select excellent research proposals that will provide the highest potential impacts across a range of economic, environmental and societal objectives, research, science and innovation minister Megan Woods says.

“This year we will see $37 million go to projects to help our transition to a low emissions and climate resilient economy, through the development of new energy opportunities and new materials,” she says.

Projects like the GNS Science led ‘Geothermal: The next generation’ will look for new ways to extract geothermal energy at greater depths, for instance.

“$91 million is being invested in projects that help to create and grow knowledge-intensive industries,” Woods says.

The Endeavour Fund provides up to $58 million annually of new investment to fund projects that have a high potential to benefit New Zealand or transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth or critical need.

Projects are funded across a number of years, with about $240-$250 million annually of total funding.

Since 2016, the Endeavour Fund has invested over $948 million to support research and science in New Zealand.

Last year, nearly 400 applications were received with 69 approved.