Research funding process - 2009/10

Applying for the 2009/10 research programme

Full details of the application process, including the Expression of Interest form, are contained in the Expression of Interest documentation for the 2009/10 Research Programme (Word doc, 393 KB).

Please read the documentation carefully, as it has been revised and updated for 2009/10. It should be read in conjunction with NZTA’s Approach to Research 2009/12 (Word, 500 KB)

Timetable for NZTA research programme 2009/10

Stage 1
Monday 13 October 2008	Expression of Interest documentation for 2009/10 released on the NZTA website
Wednesday 19 November 2008	Expressions of Interest due
Wednesday 28 January 2009	Researchers advised of outcome
Stage 2
Wednesday 28 January 2009	Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation released to short-listed researchers
Friday 6 March 2009	Full research proposals due
March/April 2009	Full research proposals assessed and recommended Research Programme compiled
May 2009	NZTA Board approval
June 2009	Researchers advised of outcome

Funding allocation

The NZTA’s research programme will allocate approximately $5 million for research in 2009/10. This amount includes funding for multi-year projects that were approved in previous years.

Research proposal process

Research programme funding is allocated through a competitive two-stage process:

Expressions of Interest (EOI) – Researchers submit short research proposal summaries (on the approved EOI form) that outline the research objectives, explain why the research is needed and identify end users. These are assessed by NZTA staff and the Research Reference Group (RRG), which is made up of representatives from key stakeholder groups. A shortlist of research proposals is prepared.
Requests for Proposal (RFP) – Researchers with short-listed proposals are requested to submit detailed proposals that expand on the information contained in the EOIs. These are assessed by NZTA staff and members of the RRG with appropriate expertise. The RRG considers the assessments and prepares a research programme for the NZTA Board’s consideration and approval.

Additional information

The following documentation will provide researchers with background information and may assist in making an EOI application. Please note that these documents do not need to be filled in at this stage of the application process.

Research agreement (Word doc, 214 KB): the research agreement has been revised and updated. Researchers with approved projects will be required to sign this research agreement.
Peer review guidelines (Word doc, 323 KB): the NZTA requires all projects to be peer reviewed by two or more external peer reviewers. This process ensures that projects are technically sound and deliver the agreed objectives. The peer review guidelines explain how this peer review process works
Previous years' research programmes: projects included in the past nine research programmes, listed by key research area, are detailed in the research programmes 2000/01 – 2008/09 (Excel spreadsheet, 120 KB).

Last updated: 12 October 200