NZ Government new IP policy gives uni researchers more control over inventions and commercialisation

The New Zealand Government is introducing a new national intellectual property (IP) policy that will give New Zealand university researchers more control over their inventions, and cap the percentage stakes their universities will be able to claim in any spin-out companies.

Currently, the government says in a statement, “each NZ university and research organisation manages IP differently, and institutions often claim ownership of discoveries made by their researchers. This can limit inventors’ ability to commercialise their work and drive growth.”

Announcing the changes, NZ Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti explains “the national policy will replace this patchwork system with clear, fair rules that reward inventors directly and encourage more commercialisation… This approach will foster and drive more innovation so Kiwi-made discoveries reach New Zealanders and the world faster, improving lives, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

Under the policy:

University researchers will have the first right to commercialise their inventions.
Researchers can commercialise independently or work with their university for support.
Where universities help, their equity stake in any spin-out company in exchange for a standard level of support will be capped at around five to ten per cent, ensuring inventors retain the majority of benefits.
Public research organisations will continue to have the first right to take discoveries to market, but if they choose not to, they must give the inventors the opportunity to take the lead themselves.

Dr Reti adds: “By giving researchers more control and clearer rewards, we’re turning great ideas into jobs, industries, and solutions for global challenges. We’re removing the handbrake on innovation. This policy creates the right incentives for researchers to take their ideas to market with the confidence that they’ll share directly in the benefits.”

From 1 July 2026, the new national IP management policy will apply to most research projects funded through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

The New Zealand Government is introducing a new national intellectual property (IP) policy that will give New Zealand university researchers more control over their inventions, and cap the percentage stakes their universities will be able to claim in any spin-out companies.

Currently, the government says in a statement, “each NZ university and research organisation manages IP differently, and institutions often claim ownership of discoveries made by their researchers. This can limit inventors’ ability to commercialise their work and drive growth.”

Announcing the changes, NZ Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti explains “the national policy will replace this patchwork system with clear, fair rules that reward inventors directly and encourage more commercialisation… This approach will foster and drive more innovation so Kiwi-made discoveries reach New Zealanders and the world faster, improving lives, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

Under the policy:

University researchers will have the first right to commercialise their inventions.
Researchers can commercialise independently or work with their university for support.
Where universities help, their equity stake in any spin-out company in exchange for a standard level of support will be capped at around five to ten per cent, ensuring inventors retain the majority of benefits.
Public research organisations will continue to have the first right to take discoveries to market, but if they choose not to, they must give the inventors the opportunity to take the lead themselves.

Dr Reti adds: “By giving researchers more control and clearer rewards, we’re turning great ideas into jobs, industries, and solutions for global challenges. We’re removing the handbrake on innovation. This policy creates the right incentives for researchers to take their ideas to market with the confidence that they’ll share directly in the benefits.”

From 1 July 2026, the new national IP management policy will apply to most research projects funded through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

The New Zealand Government is introducing a new national intellectual property (IP) policy that will give New Zealand university researchers more control over their inventions, and cap the percentage stakes their universities will be able to claim in any spin-out companies.

Currently, the government says in a statement, “each NZ university and research organisation manages IP differently, and institutions often claim ownership of discoveries made by their researchers. This can limit inventors’ ability to commercialise their work and drive growth.”

Announcing the changes, NZ Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti explains “the national policy will replace this patchwork system with clear, fair rules that reward inventors directly and encourage more commercialisation… This approach will foster and drive more innovation so Kiwi-made discoveries reach New Zealanders and the world faster, improving lives, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

Under the policy:

University researchers will have the first right to commercialise their inventions.
Researchers can commercialise independently or work with their university for support.
Where universities help, their equity stake in any spin-out company in exchange for a standard level of support will be capped at around five to ten per cent, ensuring inventors retain the majority of benefits.
Public research organisations will continue to have the first right to take discoveries to market, but if they choose not to, they must give the inventors the opportunity to take the lead themselves.

Dr Reti adds: “By giving researchers more control and clearer rewards, we’re turning great ideas into jobs, industries, and solutions for global challenges. We’re removing the handbrake on innovation. This policy creates the right incentives for researchers to take their ideas to market with the confidence that they’ll share directly in the benefits.”

From 1 July 2026, the new national IP management policy will apply to most research projects funded through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

Photo by Dan Freeman on Unsplash

The New Zealand Government is introducing a new national intellectual property (IP) policy that will give New Zealand university researchers more control over their inventions, and cap the percentage stakes their universities will be able to claim in any spin-out companies.

Currently, the government says in a statement, “each NZ university and research organisation manages IP differently, and institutions often claim ownership of discoveries made by their researchers. This can limit inventors’ ability to commercialise their work and drive growth.”

Announcing the changes, NZ Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Dr Shane Reti explains “the national policy will replace this patchwork system with clear, fair rules that reward inventors directly and encourage more commercialisation… This approach will foster and drive more innovation so Kiwi-made discoveries reach New Zealanders and the world faster, improving lives, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

Under the policy:

University researchers will have the first right to commercialise their inventions.
Researchers can commercialise independently or work with their university for support.
Where universities help, their equity stake in any spin-out company in exchange for a standard level of support will be capped at around five to ten per cent, ensuring inventors retain the majority of benefits.
Public research organisations will continue to have the first right to take discoveries to market, but if they choose not to, they must give the inventors the opportunity to take the lead themselves.

Dr Reti adds: “By giving researchers more control and clearer rewards, we’re turning great ideas into jobs, industries, and solutions for global challenges. We’re removing the handbrake on innovation. This policy creates the right incentives for researchers to take their ideas to market with the confidence that they’ll share directly in the benefits.”

From 1 July 2026, the new national IP management policy will apply to most research projects funded through the Science, Innovation and Technology portfolio.

NZ Government new IP policy gives uni researchers more control over inventions and commercialisation

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