15 December 2022 at 11:00 am

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

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is inviting New Zealand university academics to apply for funding to support research partnerships with Chinese universities. 

Tripartite story v2

The New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Fund 2023 offers funding of up to NZD 20,000-30,000 for each partnership project, with the call for proposals open until 1 March 2023. 

Funding proposals are due by 1 March 2023. Download the New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Fund 2023 Guidance and Call for Proposals and the Proposal Form.  Send your completed proposal as a PDF, and any questions, to china@enz.govt.nz.   

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 2023 for research partnerships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and applied sciences. Designed to encourage strategic academic relationships, it supports the creation or development of the partnership rather than funding the research itself. 

With the global Covid-19 pandemic restricting some international travel, the fund welcomes innovative ideas. Current investments include digital technology services, communications platforms, translation costs and journal access.  

At the recent New Zealand-China 10th Joint Working Group held on 22 November, senior officials at the meeting noted the value of Tripartite research relationships and the impact of having funding from both governments to establish new partnerships or nurture established research collaboration. Li Qing, Deputy Secretary General China Scholarship Council, remarked on the benefits of both student mobility through scholarships and closer research links such as the Tripartite Partnership Programme. The co-chair of the Joint Working Group, Vice Minister Tian Xuejun, stated in his closing remarks that China and New Zealand should continue to strengthen existing cooperation activities, listing the Tripartite Partnership Programme as one of the initiatives. 

Lisa Futschek, General Manager International, reinforced ENZ’s commitment to administering the fund.  

“We remain committed to the Tripartite Partnership Programme and its valuable contribution toward stronger global connections, research links and partnerships – key goals under the revised New Zealand International Education Strategy, launched by Minister Hipkins in August this year. We look forward to many more partnerships under this programme.”  

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 2023. Download the New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Fund 2023 Guidance and Call for Proposals and the Proposal Form.  Send your completed proposal as a PDF, and any questions, to china@enz.govt.nz.   

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