Deadline: October 31, 2025
The Pacific Innovation Hub is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade International Development Cooperation initiative that partners with New Zealand and Pacific businesses to support innovative commercial initiatives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes in the Pacific, aiming to enhance economic resilience by accelerating product, service, and market development while improving productivity within existing industries.
The Pacific Innovation Hub focuses on enhancing the economic resilience of Pacific Island countries by increasing innovation and diversification in the private sector and identifying commercial opportunities with development outcomes. It aims to provide a platform that leverages the resources and willingness of the New Zealand private sector to deliver Sustainable Development Goal outcomes in the Pacific. The Hub supports all sectors and considers applications from all Pacific Island countries eligible for Official Development Assistance, as well as the Cook Islands and Timor Leste.
The Hub offers International Development Cooperation support, including advice and resources, to both New Zealand and Pacific companies to develop innovative solutions to SDG challenges in the Pacific Islands. Its key services include Connections, providing a team of Engagement Managers to connect businesses into MFAT’s programs, networks, and insights; the Ideas Lab, which brings together key stakeholders to test and refine innovative business ideas through a design thinking co-design process; and the Viability Gap Fund, providing co-funding grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to help businesses prove concepts and scale initiatives where alternative funding is not available.
The Ideas Lab process involves applicants selecting a design thinking consultant with their Engagement Manager to co-design a bespoke approach. During the lab, interviews with stakeholders and customers are conducted, followed by a facilitated workshop in a Pacific Island country to test and refine the innovation. This process results in a collaborative action-based plan to guide implementation. MFAT funds the design consultant and workshop cost; however, applicants must attend the workshop at their own travel expense. After completion, driving the innovation forward becomes the applicant’s responsibility with ongoing support from the Engagement Manager.
The Viability Gap Fund assists initiatives facing funding gaps that cannot be addressed through company resources, loans, investors, or other funders. Initiatives must be ready for implementation and have confirmed buy-in from Pacific partners or development beneficiaries. Grants cover expenses directly related to innovation such as technical assistance, research, small assets, and training but exclude core business functions like wages and rent.
Eligibility extends to all sectors across a range of Pacific Island countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Cook Islands, and Timor Leste.
Selection criteria emphasize impact, including enhancing economic resilience through innovation and diversification, meeting current unmet needs, scalability, alignment with SDGs, potential for medium and long-term outcomes, innovation, and contribution to inclusivity in the Pacific. Funding criteria require additionality, co-funding match (typically 50:50), ability to finance co-funding, and compliance with ODA principles.
Applicants must demonstrate their ability to deliver through sound business models, experienced teams, risk management, and adherence to MFAT values and policies. The Hub also ensures that funding does not duplicate existing support and that applicants can commit the necessary time and resources for the Ideas Lab process.
For more information, visit MFAT.
