Marsden grant

Marsden Fund grants are contestable funding for investigator-led fundamental research in New Zealand. Grants are made in all areas of research in science, engineering, and mathematics. The grants are made from the Marsden Fund, which was established by the New Zealand Government in 1994. The Marsden Fund is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand. Most of the grants go to researchers at New Zealand universities, but some go to researchers at Crown Research Institutes and elsewhere.^[1][2][3] The grants are named after English-New Zealand physicist Ernest Marsden (1889–1970).^[1] In December 2024, the Government announced that it would end Marsden grants to humanities and social science research to focus on "core sciences" that would "grow the New Zealand economy."^[4]

History

The first Marsden Fund grants were awarded in 1995, when NZ$10.2 million (excluding GST) was shared between 51 successful projects. In 2001, the Fast Start category was introduced specifically for Early Career Researchers (within 7 years of completing their PhD). By 2018, the size of the Marsden Fund had grown to NZ$85.6 million and 136 grants were made.^[5] These included 53 Fast Start grants and 83 Standard grants.^[5] The 2018 round also introduced a new category of grant, the Marsden Fund Council Award.^[6] These larger grants are focused on interdisciplinary research; however, there were no successful applications in the initial round.^{[citation needed]}

On 4 December 2024, Minister for Research, Science and Innovation Judith Collins announced that funding for humanities and social science research would be dropped from the Marsden Fund, and that their panels would be disbanded in 2025. She said that the New Zealand Government would focus on "core sciences" such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and the biomedical sciences that would support economic growth, scientific and technological development.^[4] The changes to the Marsden Fund's terms of reference were condemned by eighty researchers in an open letter to the Minister.^[7] A spokesperson for the group said "the changes amounted to political overreach...the Marsden Fund has for a long time been the flagship fund for social science and humanities researchers, I think this is why this decision is so hurtful".^[8]

Application process

The Marsden Fund granting process is highly competitive, with over 1,000 applications per year and success rates that often hover around 10%. Proposals are assessed primarily on the potential of the research to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, with long-term benefits to New Zealand.^[9] In the 2018 funding round, the success rate was 11.2% for Standard grants and 14.8% for Fast Start grants.^[5] Because of this intense competition, winning a Marsden Fund grant is regarded as a hallmark of research excellence in New Zealand.^[1]

Successful proposals are selected by the Marsden Fund Council.^[10] In 2022 there were 113 research projects funded nationally.^[11]

Marsden Fund Council

The Marsden Fund Council are appointed by the New Zealand Minister for Research, Science and Innovation. In 2022 the council was made up of the following people who convene different panels: Professor Gillian Dobbie (Chair), Professor Jacqueline Beggs, Professor Penny Brothers, Professor Colin Brown, Professor Kathleen Campbell, Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase, Dr Richard Newcomb, Professor Chellie Spiller, Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley and Professor Cynthia White.^[10]

Budget Allocations

Allocated spending for the Marsden grant by year

Year	Funding, Millions NZD
2022	almost 78[11]
2020	79[12]
2019	79[13]
2018	71[14]
2017	64
2016	58
2015	54
2014	52
2013	52
2012	47
2011	47
2010	47

See also

• See also: Category:Recipients of Marsden grants

References

1. "Royal Society Te Apārangi – Background to the Marsden Fund". royalsociety.org.nz.
2. "Marsden Fund Investment Plan 2021-2024" (PDF). Royal Society Te Apārangi. May 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
3. Morton, Jamie (2 October 2015). "Marsden Fund comes under the microscope". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
4. Gordon, Pretoria (4 December 2024). "Government's Marsden Fund cuts: All humanities, social sciences research funding slashed". RNZ. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
5. "Royal Society Te Apārangi - New Marsden Fund grants support innovative research in Aotearoa from atoms to Antarctica's microbes". royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
6. "Royal Society Te Apārangi - 2019 Marsden Fund Council Award guidelines for applicants". royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
7. "Joint Statement by 80 Rutherford Discovery Fellows Denouncing the Minister's Decision to Cut Humanities, Social Science, and Fundamental Science Funding" (Open letter). Letter to Judith Collins. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
8. Argue, Mary (12 December 2024). "Researchers pen scathing open letter to Minister over Marsden Fund changes". RNZ. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
9. "Royal Society Te Apārangi - Terms of Reference for the Marsden Fund". royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
10. "Marsden Fund Council". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
11. Board, Otago Bulletin. "Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund grants recipients for 2022". University of Otago. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
12. Vote Business, Science and Innovation (PDF). The Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations 2020/21 B.7 (Report). 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
13. Vote Business, Science and Innovation (PDF). The Estimates of Appropriations 2019/20 - Economic Development and Infrastructure Sector B.5 Vol.1 (Report). 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
14. Vote Business, Science and Innovation (PDF). The Estimates of Appropriations 2018/19 Economic Development and Infrastructure Sector B.5 Vol.1. (Report). 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2024.