Background to the Marsden Fund
An overview of the history, purpose and processes of the Marsden Fund
The Marsden Fund was established by the government in 1994 to fund excellent fundamental research. It is a contestable fund administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi on behalf of the Marsden Fund Council. It operates under the Terms of Reference issued by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.
| 1994 | Minister of Research, Science and Technology Simon Upton proposes a contestable basic research fund, spun out of the Public Good Research Fund. |
| 1995 |
First competitive round. Nearly $6m is allocated to 60 projects across 5 panels: Agricultural, Medical & Life Sciences Earth Sciences and Astronomy Mathematical and Information Sciences Physical Sciences and Engineering Social Sciences |
| 1996 | Marsden Fund Council convenes first meeting. Administration of the Fund moves to the Royal Society of New Zealand. Ian Axford is appointed as the first Chair of the Fund. |
| 1997 | Humanities is included in Marsden Fund. |
| 2001 | Fast-Start category is introduced for early-career researchers. |
| 2005 | At the 10th anniversary of the Fund nearly $40 million is allocated. |
| 2014 | At the 20th anniversary of the Fund $55.7m is allocated. |
| 2018 | Marsden Fund Council Award category is introduced for large, interdisciplinary projects. |
| 2024 | At the 30th anniversary of the Fund $75.82m is allocated. Terms of Reference focus on core science and economic, environment and health impact. |
The Marsden Fund encourages New Zealand’s leading researchers to explore new ideas that may not be funded through other funding streams and fosters creativity and innovation within the science innovation and technology system. Exploring new ideas results in greater potential to develop new technologies, products, boost economic growth, and enhance New Zealand’s quality of life.
The Marsden Fund invests in excellent, investigator-led research aimed at generating new knowledge, with the potential for long-term economic, environmental or health benefit to New Zealand. It supports excellent research projects that advance and expand the knowledge base and it contributes to the development of people with advanced skills in New Zealand.
Competition for grants is intense. The Marsden Fund is regarded as the hallmark of excellence for research in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A Marsden Fund Council of nine eminent researchers, chaired by Professor Gill Dobbie, is appointed by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology to make recommendations for funding. Selection criteria focus on the research merit of the proposal, the potential of the researchers to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the enhancement of research skills in New Zealand (especially those of emerging researchers), and the potential for economic, environmental or health benefits for New Zealand. Eight panels have been established to help the Marsden Fund Council assess proposals. These are:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology
- Earth Sciences and Astronomy
- Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour
- Economics and Human and Behavioural Sciences
- Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences
- Mathematical and Information Sciences
- Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Each year, the call for proposals is made in December. The deadline for proposals follows in February. Initially, applicants submit a short expression of interest (EoI). These are assessed by the appropriate panel, and the highest ranked are invited to submit full proposals. Each full proposal is scored by external referees – in 2024 approximately 641 referees were used to assess full proposals. In September of each year, the panels meet to decide their preferred projects. Referee reports, as well as applicant responses to their referee reports, are used in the final panel discussions. The recommendations of each panel are confirmed by the Marsden Fund Council, and ratified by the Royal Society Te Apārangi Council. The results of the funding are announced near the beginning of November.
The Marsden Fund takes its name from physicist Sir Ernest Marsden (1889-1970) who made a remarkable contribution to science both in New Zealand and overseas. For more details about Sir Ernest Marsden life see his biography: