AUT Health Futures Funding Programme

The AUT Health Futures Funding Programme launched in 2020. The $20 million five-year programme gives AUT researchers and external collaborators across a diversity of fields the chance to apply for funding for their idea.

The AUT Health Futures Funding Programme has significant funding available - $20 million over five years – to explore ways that through collaboration and partnership we can tackle some of the pressing issues that confront the communities we serve. We are looking for new ideas with potential application. These could be large or small projects with bold solutions relevant to the post-COVID-19 world.

AUT researchers and external collaborators across a diversity of fields are invited to apply for funding for their idea. But the idea must be collaborative and include AUT researchers alongside an external collaborator.

Rather than a lengthy submission, proposals will be presented in up to 10 slides in a maximum of 10 minutes at the AUT Health Futures Forum .

Step 1 - Expression of interest (200 words)

Ideas with potential that are not yet ready to be fully funded may be provided with support to further develop their idea (this may include part funding).

Step 2 - Pitch at the AUT Health Futures Forum

Successful applicants who make it to Step 2 will be invited to introduce their project and team at the AUT Health Futures Forum. Applicants will be asked to present up to 10 slides in fewer than 10 minutes – no jargon, no acronyms, and pitched for an informed lay audience. The pitch must be co-presented by one member of the AUT team and a significant and authorised representative from the external partner/s.

The AUT Health Futures Forum panel will select the best proposals to be funded.

Step 3 - Collaborate on your funded project

Step 4 - Report back on milestones and progress

Successful teams are expected to share their progress and challenges and to support each other to solve problems.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding your idea must meeting the criteria for funding proposals and meeting one of the research themes.

Criteria for funding proposals

To be eligible for funding your project must demonstrate each of the following criteria:

Contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s pandemic recovery
Authentic collaboration between an AUT team and at least one external partner involved in co-developing the project
The inclusion of new and emerging AUT researchers, including students
A meaningful contribution to solving challenging and complex problems
Potential applicability in education, delivery, community, policy and/or more.

The Vice-Chancellor reserves the right to limit the number of proposals that are considered and/or to manage the allocation of funding across the University if necessary.

Research themes

AUT Health Futures is designed to support and fund research that will solve challenging and complex problems. Your idea must relate to one of four key themes:

Exploring strong foundations for future health
Inequity in access and delivery of healthcare
Disconnected health
Management and bureaucracy – barriers to change

Forum

Pitching for AUT Health Futures funding happens at the AUT Health Futures Forum. The format will be 10 slides in a maximum of 10 minutes. Pitches must be co-developed and co-presented by the AUT project lead and the external partner/s, and should communicate ideas that draw on excellence in scholarship and relevance to societal issues.

The forum is a closed event to protect any IP and sensitive information being shared during the pitch presentation.

The AUT Health Futures Forum panel

The panel has been designed to be collaborative and connected to our communities, with both external and internal panellists. Our panel will ensure the successful pitches are relevant and innovative.

The AUT Health Futures Forum panel will select the best proposals on the day to be funded, subject to a more detailed description of what is proposed. Ideas with potential that are not yet ready to be fully funded may be provided support to be further developed (this may include part funding).

Refer to the AUT Health Futures guidelines page for more information.