ENZ calls for funding proposals for New Zealand-China research partnerships

The fund supports new or existing research partnerships between New Zealand and Chinese universities. There are usually three universities involved – two from China and one from New Zealand. 

The Tripartite Partnership Fund, administered by ENZ, has a pool of up to NZD 100,000 in 2024 for research partnerships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and applied sciences. Designed to encourage strategic academic relationships, the fund focuses on fostering relationships and the development of the partnership rather than funding the research itself. 

The Tripartite Partnership Fund is a key piece of education cooperation between New Zealand and China. Projects under the fund have enjoyed a high level of visibility and attention in both New Zealand and China. For example, the Tripartite Partnership and its projects were highlighted during the visit to New Zealand by China’s Minister of Education H.E. Huai Jinpeng in August 2023.  

Lisa Futschek, General Manager International, is encouraged by the interim reports of the current Tripartite Partnership Fund recipients and their accounts of travel to China to reconnect and work with their partners this year following the pandemic.  

“It is great to see the reciprocal exchanges between New Zealand and Chinese research partners thriving with mobility between the partners leading to promising research outputs,” Ms Futschek said. 

Established in 2005, the Tripartite Research Partnership is a valued part of the New Zealand – China bilateral education relationship and we welcome proposals from researchers to join the growing list of funding recipients. 

Funding proposals are due by 1 March 2024. Download the New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Fund 2024 Guidance and Call for Proposals and the Proposal Form.  Send your completed proposal as a PDF, and any questions, to china@enz.govt.nz.