Science New Zealand

Science New Zealand

Science New Zealand is an incorporated society funded by its members: the seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) and Callaghan Innovation, a Crown Agent.

Our members

CRIs are Crown-owned companies formed under the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 and the Companies Act 1993. The shareholders are the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Research, Science & Innovation. Their boards, appointed by the shareholder Ministers, have the same duties and responsibilities as that of any other company.

Each CRI is aligned with a productive sector of the economy or a grouping of natural resources. They are some of New Zealand’s most significant producers of science knowledge, products and services.

Callaghan Innovation was established under the Callaghan Innovation Act 2012 and is a Crown Agent. Its board is appointed by the Minister of Research, Science & Innovation and is subject to closer control by the Crown than are the CRI boards.

Callaghan Innovation's focus is to improve the growth and competitiveness of New Zealand's private sector businesses. It does this by supporting science and technology-based innovation and its commercialisation.

CRIs and Callaghan Innovation are tasked to provide solutions to critical issues for the New Zealand economy, environment and society.  To do so, they work with science colleagues from around the world, as well as other researchers across New Zealand.

They develop new knowledge, products or services and contribute to client strategies, policy and public interest issues through data and insights. 

They work with clients in all parts of New Zealand, and many other countries. Clients include central and local government, community groups, not-for-profits and private sector businesses and industry groups.

In addition to earning revenue from clients, CRIs receive funds through New Zealand's contestable research funding regime.