In a major shift for New Zealand’s science and innovation landscape, the Government has unveiled a national intellectual property (IP) policy that will give researchers greater control over their own inventions, encouraging the commercialisation of homegrown ideas and boosting the translation of academic research into real-world products and services.
Announced by Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti, the policy is designed to eliminate longstanding barriers to innovation and ensure that researchers—rather than institutions—stand to benefit directly from the outcomes of their work.
“New rules for managing intellectual property will ensure our brightest minds are incentivised and supported to turn ideas into impact,” said Dr Reti. “We want Kiwi-made discoveries to reach New Zealanders and the world faster—improving lives, creating jobs, and driving economic growth.”
What the Policy Will Do
The new IP framework, which comes into effect from 1 July 2026, will apply to most research projects funded through the Government’s Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio. It introduces a consistent national approach, replacing the current fragmented and inconsistent rules used across different universities and Crown research institutes (CRIs).
Full story: NZ Researchers to Gain First Rights Over Inventions Under New National IP Policy
