Research Development Fund (RDF) 2026

Applications to the Research Development Fund (RDF) contestable round for projects starting in 2026 are now closed. The 2027 round will be announced later in 2026. The information below is for reference purposes only.

Key points:

  • The RDF is an internal university fund with objectives aligned with the principles of Taumata Teitei.
  • We are inviting applications for funding of 1-year projects with budgets of up to $15,000.
  • Project accounts will be active from 1 January 2026 and the funds must be utilised by latest, 31 December 2026.
  • Applications for workload relief and teaching buyout will not be considered.

To foster grant writing mentorship within Disciplinary Areas (DAs) and provide support for new applicants as they develop their applications, DA Leads are kindly requested to assess all applications from their discipline. This will also provide the Faculty Research Committee (FRC) with assurance of the quality of the research and whether the outputs are realistic in the proposed timeframes. We strongly encourage applicants to contact their DA Leads early to indicate their intention to apply for an RDF project and seek advice from them and other colleagues.

Information session for applicants: 15 September 11am-12pm, room 260-325

An in-person information session on the 2026 Research Development Fund (RDF) will be held to address questions about the application process, budget planning, and submission guidelines. The session will be led by key academic and research services staff, and a calendar invitation will be sent to confirm attendance.

Submission process:

  1. Applicant emails the completed application form to the DA Lead for assessment by 3 October, 5pm.
  2. Either the applicant or the DA Lead can submit the assessed and signed application form by email to Juan Camilo Rodriguez at j.rodriguez@auckland.ac.nz by 17 October, 5pm.
  3. The FRC will make recommendations late in November, approval will be sought, and applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of November.

Before applications are submitted online, please:

Read the University’s RDF guidelines and pay special attention to the document RDF Project Fund 2026: Guidelines for Faculty of Business and Economics. They include important advice on the goals of the fund, faculty requirements, eligibility, what you may apply for, and how to compose a reasonable budget.

Ensure to seek ethics approval, if required, before the end of the year. It is each individual's responsibility to initiate this process in a timely manner to avoid delays in starting the project. Successful applicants will be able to start working on their awarded projects from 1 January 2026.

If you require any additional advice or assistance, please get in touch with our Research Services team: Juan Camilo Rodriguez and Dr Meagan Barclay.

Resources:

  1. Research Development Fund 2026: Application Form RDF – Contestable funding round 2026
  2. RDF Project Fund 2026: Guidelines for the Faculty of Business and Economics
  3. RDF University Guidelines
  4. UoA Taumata Teitei