Apply for Pacific Innovation Hub Programme

It facilitates connections into the Ministry’s development network and catalyses innovative ideas.

The Pacific Innovation Hub is a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) International Development Cooperation initiative. It partners with New Zealand and Pacific businesses to support innovative commercial initiatives with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes.

Applicants must first submit an EOI. Successful candidates will be invited to apply for the Ideas Lab or Viability Gap Fund, with guidance from Engagement Managers throughout the process.

Objectives

• Enhance economic resilience in the Pacific by supporting innovative private-sector initiatives.
• Foster collaborations between Pacific businesses and New Zealand stakeholders to achieve SDG outcomes.

Focus Areas

• The Pacific Innovation Hub Offer:
  • Team of Engagement Managers – to connect you into MFAT’s programmes, networks and insights.
  • Ideas Lab – brings together New Zealand and Pacific stakeholders and communities to explore the feasibility and implementation of early-stage innovative initiatives. MFAT will provide a design thinking consultant to lead this process.
  • Viability Gap Fund – small amounts of co-funding for businesses and entrepreneurs to prove concepts and overcome barriers, where alternate funding is not available

Funding Information

• Ideas Lab:
  • Provides design thinking support to develop innovative concepts and action plans for stakeholders.
• Viability Gap Fund:
  • Grants up to $100,000 to fill funding gaps for promising initiatives.
  • Applicants must co-fund 50% (or 30% in exceptional cases).
• Eligible Expenditures
  • Feasibility studies, research, technical assistance, and small assets.
  • Excludes operational costs like rent, wages, and utilities.

Benefits

• Access to design thinking workshops and stakeholder collaborations.
• Co-funding to develop concepts into scalable, impactful solutions.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased innovation and diversification in Pacific private sectors.
• Sustainable development and improved livelihoods in target regions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants:
  • Commercial entities based in eligible Pacific Island countries or New Zealand.
    • Eligible entities include commercial entities such as corporations, partnerships, and social enterprises. NGOs, charities, and government agencies are not eligible.
    • Eligible Pacific Island countries include 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.
  • Applicants must demonstrate the capacity for co-funding and project execution.

Selection Criteria

• Alignment with Pacific Innovation Hub goals and SDG outcomes.
• Demonstrated need, scalability potential, and inclusivity.
• The project must address funding gaps not covered by other sources.

Ineligible Applicants/Projects

• NGOs, charities, and government agencies.
• Projects replicating existing products/services by competitors.

For more information, visit mfat.govt.nz.