Wanted: New Zealand’s Most Innovative Businesses To Team Up

Media Release

16 April 2012

Wanted: New Zealand’s Most Innovative Businesses To Team Up With Bright Young Minds

The Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) is inviting businesses to apply for funding to hire a postgraduate student.

Seventy internships are available for postgraduate students to undertake R&D-related work with innovative businesses during a six-month period.

“This programme brings together business and young talent. The latter have strong connections within universities. Businesses tell us it is an opportunity to engage with research organisations, and access knowledge and technologies they might not seek access to otherwise,” says MSI’s chief executive Murray Bain.

“Due to popular demand we have increased the number of internships from 50 to 70 this year. Alongside science, technology and engineering students, we will now also allow for businesses to hire design, commercialisation or marketing students. This will bring the programme more into line with what the market wants.”

The postgraduate internship programme is run annually by MSI, and complements a similar initiative for summer internships for undergraduate students.

It targets both small and large businesses as long as the work undertaken by the intern is focused on R&D beyond business as usual. Businesses will only be funded for one intern.

Based upon a maximum annual salary of $60,000, MSI will provide companies with $30,000 (plus GST) to cover the salary of the postgraduate for six months.

Businesses that want to apply for the funding will have to do so before midday, Monday 7 May.

Students who are interested in the internships should keep an eye out for vacancies from successful businesses on www.nzunicareerhub.ac.nz from 1 July onwards.

More information on eligibility criteria for students and businesses, timelines and how to apply can be found on MSI’s website

ENDS

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