New innovation grants announced

About $21.4 million in co-funded grants to businesses set to forge innovation pathways has been announced by science, innovation and technology minister Judith Collins.

The first Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer grants are part of a new Callaghan Innovation fund supporting innovative New Zealanders with big ideas to take to market world-leading innovations.

Recipients span diverse industries and sectors from new space­ bound vehicle manufacturing and in-orbit technology development, to innovative, high-tech healthcare solutions and novel carbon reducing clean-tech.

CarabonScope’s work on biographite for EV batteries and Dawn Aerospace’s work to provide more sustainable ways to access and move around in orbit are among eight grant recipients.

The next round opens early 2024.

Grants are worth up to $4 million, while up to $25,000 may go towards advancing some innovation that are not quite ready.

Ārohia grant co-funding can be used for a wide range of non-research and development go-to-market activities including product and process development, and new business models.

“From the first long-haul refrigerated ship equipped to transport meat from New Zealand to our biggest export markets, to local development of low-orbit satellite launch vehicles, New Zealand has a proud tradition of world-leading innovation,” Collins adds.

“There’s no doubt we have the talent, but to get to where we want to be, this country needs more visionary innovators to succeed on a global scale and more opportunities for those who follow in their footsteps.

“This Government will support innovative businesses to thrive, and I am looking forward to further promoting more of New Zealand’s talented entrepreneurs.”

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