Impact Support Fund
The Impact Support Fund is a component of the Antarctic Science Platform’s Protected Areas Hoe (PAH). The purpose of the PAH is to work with tiaki, hoe, and science users to facilitate optimal integration of emerging science into decision-making. Immediate targets for this work include two protected area systems – the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (RSrMPA), and the Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) – as well as the development of environmental state assessment tools.
The Impact Support Fund has a total value of $800,000 and provides individual grants of up to NZ$50,000. This contestable funding allows a degree of responsiveness to changing research priorities and new opportunities, whilst also providing a mechanism for incorporating new talent and capability.
Eligibility & Assessment Criteria
The proposed project must deliver excellent science that is closely aligned with the Antarctic Science Platform mandate and will make important and relevant contributions towards the ASP impact statements.
Download the Impact Support Fund Application Guidelines for application details and more information.
- Submissions can be made at any time.
- The proposal must be submitted by a New Zealand-based research organisation, and should be co-developed with, and supported by, a relevant impact-facilitation partner.
- The New Zealand PI must be employed by the New Zealand-based research organisation that submits the proposal.
- The proposed project must not already be supported by other means. Where a grant provides funding to complement or extend existing research activity to amplify impact, this must be made clear in the application.
- Grants are expected to be highly focused, and can run for a maximum of 24 months. Start and end dates will be mutually agreed between the PI, PLT, and Impact Partner(s). A target for the impact must be defined, as well as an impact pathway and timeline.
- Grants are expected to utilise existing research, data, data products, and tools, and should not be used for generation of new original data.
- Grantees must be prepared to support Antarctic Science Platform outreach activities.
- The proposed project must not already be supported by other means. Where a grant provides funding to complement or extend existing research activity to amplify impact, this must be made clear in the application.
- Grants are expected to utilise existing research, data, data products, and tools, and should not be used for generation of new original data.
- Grantees must be prepared to support Antarctic Science Platform outreach activities.
Fund Intentions
The Impact Support Fund will enable projects which focus on generating impactful outputs and outcomes, and that are not supported by other means. Researchers, working in collaboration with ASP impact partner(s) and/or organisations, can use any pre-existing and available research to contribute a critical New Zealand perspective to fora that facilitate impact that is aligned with the mandate of the ASP and, in particular, within the priority target areas of the PAH.
Assessment Process
Applications will be assessed by international peer-review involving the Independent Science Panel and the Platform Leadership Team. The final investment decision made by the Platform Steering Group.