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Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas and Research Programmes Call for Proposals 2017 Endeavour Round September 2016

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Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas and Research Programmes

Call for Proposals 2017 Endeavour Round

September 2016

All financial information in this document is indicative only, and does not include GST.

Contents

How this document helps you ...................................................................................................... 1

What you need to know – at a glance ........................................................................................... 2

What else you need to know ........................................................................................................ 3

Endeavour Fund ........................................................................................................................... 4

Additional information ........................................................................................................................ 4

The Process.................................................................................................................................. 5

Smart Ideas ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Research Programmes ........................................................................................................................ 5

For all Proposals .......................................................................................................................... 6

Scoring................................................................................................................................................. 6

Conflict of interest .............................................................................................................................. 6

Providing assessment information ..................................................................................................... 6

Meeting NZ Governments’ data requirements .................................................................................. 6

Open data........................................................................................................................................ 6

Environmental data management .................................................................................................. 6

Submitting your proposal ................................................................................................................... 7

Terms and Conditions related to this Call for Proposals..................................................................... 7

Funding decisions ........................................................................................................................ 7

Investment portfolio ........................................................................................................................... 7

Funding of individual proposals .......................................................................................................... 7

Contracting .................................................................................................................................. 8

Appendix A: Call for Proposals glossary

Appendix B: Linked documents

Appendix C: Terms and conditions related to the Endeavour Fund Call for Proposals

1

How this document helps you This ‘Call for Proposals’ invites proposals to be considered for investment. It is one of a suite of documents that can provide information to help you develop and submit a proposal for the Endeavour Fund. Please read this document in conjunction with other relevant documents set out in Figure 1, before you begin to develop your proposal. Figure 1: Document Map

2

What you need to know – at a glance

What are the key dates?

These key dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

Smart Ideas

Late September 2016 Call for Proposals and Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal available

Early October 2016 Roadshow sessions

12 noon, 2 November 2016 Closing date for registrations

12 noon, 30 November 2016 Closing date for concept proposals

April 2017 Science Board decisions on concept proposals

May 2017 Applicants notified of Science Board decisions

12 noon, 14 June 2017 Closing date for full proposals

August 2017 Science Board final decisions

September 2017 Applicants notified

1 October 2017 Contracts begin

Research Programmes

Late September 2016 Call for Proposals and Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal available

Early October 2016 Roadshow sessions

12 noon, 8 February 2017 Closing date for registrations

12 noon, 9 March 2017 Closing date for proposals

May 2017 Science Board decisions on Excellence

June 2017 Applicants notified of Science Board decisions

August 2017 Science Board final decisions

September 2017 Applicants notified

1 October 2017 Contracts begin

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible to receive funding both the applicant and the proposed research must meet eligibility criteria set out in Section 6 of the Gazette Notice. When you submit your application you will be asked to confirm that you meet these criteria or to explain why not.

Do I have to register my proposal?

Yes. You must register each proposal you submit. If you do not register your proposal, you cannot submit a concept proposal or full proposal. The Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal provides more information on how to register your proposal and the information you need to supply at that stage.

How do I get updates?

Any change to key information will be notified via MBIE’s Alert e-newsletter for the Endeavour Round. If you do not already receive science investment Alerts you can sign up to receive them here.

3

What else you need to know

What funding is available?

Investment mechanism

Indicative funds available ($ per year)

Funding per proposal

Term

Smart Ideas

$10 million

$0.4–$1.0 million over the term of the contract

2–3 years

Research Programmes

$38 million $0.5 million or over per year

3–5 years

Note: Funding figures exclude GST

How do I access the IMS Portal?

All registrations, concept proposals and full proposals are submitted using MBIE’s IMS Portal.

For new applicants: visit http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/how-we-invest/how-to-apply, complete the form and return it to [email protected] .

For returning applicants: log in using your existing username and password. If you’ve forgotten this, use the “I’ve forgotten my password” option.

How do I contact MBIE?

Email [email protected] for any questions about the process or completing your proposal.

Email [email protected] for questions about the IMS portal.

Phone us on 0800 693 778 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm).

Note: if MBIE thinks the question and answer would be relevant to other applicants, it will be posted as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) on the Endeavour Round web page.

Subscribe to MBIE’s Alert e-newsletter for the Endeavour Round (you can subscribe here).

What‘s new this year?

The Gazette Notice has been updated to provide clarity on eligibility of research proposals that have a primary focus on health impacts.

Smart Ideas Concept Proposals will be assessed initially for excellence only.

The Investment Plan has been updated to include new funding figures.

4

Endeavour Fund The Endeavour Fund is managed as an investment portfolio across social, environmental and economic objectives which are defined in the Investment Plan. The 2017 Endeavour Round is the process by which investment will be made from the fund. MBIE now invites proposals to be considered for investment from the fund. The scope of the research that the fund will support is detailed in the Investment Plan and Gazette Notice. Funding is made through two investment mechanisms – Smart Ideas and Research Programmes. Smart Ideas are intended to catalyse and rapidly test promising, innovative research ideas with high potential for benefit to New Zealand, to enable refresh and diversity in the science portfolio. Research Programmes are intended to support ambitious, excellent and well-defined research ideas which, collectively, have credible and high potential to positively transform New Zealand’s future in areas of future value, growth or critical need. More information on each mechanism is given in the Investment Plan and the Gazette Notice.

Additional information

There are documents available that we strongly recommend you refer to when developing the content of your proposal. These documents are contextual and will provide information on strategy and purpose.

National Statement of Science Investment 2015-2025 (the NSSI) outlines the government’s 10-year vision for New Zealand’s science system.

Endeavour Fund Investment Plan 2016-2019 (the Investment Plan) outlines the government’s strategy for its science investment for the next three years.

New Zealand Gazette Notice, Number 2016-go4875, August 2016 (the Gazette Notice) sets the criteria the Minister for Science and Innovation requires the Science Board to use in making funding decisions for the Fund.

Vision Mātauranga policy outlines the government’s policy framework that aims to unlock the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people to assist New Zealanders to create a better future.

International Science for New Zealand: Strategic Action Plan provides guidance about government’s expectations of the contribution of international partnerships and collaborations to New Zealand science, (due for release early 2017).

These documents are more operational and will provide guidance on how to.

Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal explains the purpose of each section of the application form and suggests information you may wish to include in your proposal.

Assessor Guidelines for Smart Ideas/Assessor Guidelines for Research Programmes provide details of the scoring guides and an indication of the information assessors will be looking for in assessing your proposal(s). These are the guidelines MBIE provides to assessors.

Portal Guidelines for Applicants explain how to register and submit a proposal through the IMS portal.

5

The Process

Smart Ideas

Smart Ideas is a two-stage application process.

First, concept proposals are submitted for assessment of excellence. Based on the results of the assessment, the Science Board will determine which concept proposals will be invited to proceed to a full proposal. After concept proposals have been assessed, MBIE will advise you of the Science Board’s decision on your concept proposal. If the Science Board assessed your concept proposal as having sufficient excellence criteria quality, you will be invited to submit a full proposal. Smart Ideas Full Proposals are assessed for excellence and impact in concurrent processes. Figure 2: The Smart Ideas application process

Research Programmes

For Research Programmes, full proposals are submitted for assessment.

All proposals that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed for excellence. After proposals have been assessed for excellence, MBIE will advise you of the Science Board’s decision on your proposal. Impact will be assessed only for proposals that have been assessed as having sufficient quality against the excellence criteria in the Gazette Notice. Figure 3: The Research Programmes application process

6

For all Proposals

Scoring

Depending on the mechanism, total scores for each proposal will be calculated using different weightings. Assessment criteria for the two investment mechanisms is set out in the Gazette Notice.

Conflict of interest

You can identify in your proposal any person you consider has a conflict of interest with your proposed research. Conflicts are defined in the glossary in Appendix A. MBIE will post a list of potential assessors on MBIE’s website before proposals are assigned to assessors so you may check for, and advise MBIE of, any potential conflicts of interest. An MBIE Alert will be issued when assessors’ names are posted on the website. As soon as you identify potential conflicts of interest or if you are unsure whether interests present a conflict you should contact MBIE, by emailing [email protected].

Providing assessment information

Independent, external science and impact assessors appointed by MBIE will assess eligible proposals against the criteria in the Gazette Notice. Your proposal needs to contain information that is relevant to the assessment criteria, and can be used by assessors to determine the excellence and potential impact of your proposed research, science and technology or related activities. The Gazette Notice, Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal, Assessor Guidelines for Smart Ideas and the Assessor Guidelines for Research Programmes contain information to help you provide assessment information.

Meeting NZ Governments’ data requirements

Open data

MBIE is committed to ensuring that all science data generated through its investments meets minimum expectations of good data management and public availability. If you receive funding from the Endeavour Fund, MBIE expects you to comply with the New Zealand Government Open Access and Licensing Framework. This framework advocates the use of creative commons licences.

Environmental data management

Proposals that include environmental science are subject to MBIE’s Environmental Data Management Policy Statement. If you receive new funding for research that includes environmental science you must agree to license under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence (CC-BY) copyright works produced.

7

Submitting your proposal

All proposals must be submitted through MBIE’s online IMS Portal. For details on how to use the IMS Portal, please see Portal Guidelines for Applicants. If your proposal will be submitted by a university or a Crown research institute, your research office will also be able to provide you with advice. MBIE will not accept registrations, concept proposals or full proposals received after submission deadlines. You must submit your registration, concept proposal (for Smart Ideas only) or full proposal by 12 noon on the due dates provided in this Call for Proposals or as notified through MBIE Alerts.

Terms and Conditions related to this Call for Proposals

The terms and conditions related to this Call for Proposals are listed in Appendix C. These explain how MBIE will use the information you provide, and clarify important features of applying for funding, such as confidentiality of information, intellectual property ownership, and talking to news media about your proposal. By submitting a proposal you are agreeing to these terms and conditions. You are also agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Science Investment Contract, should your proposal be funded.

Funding decisions

Investment portfolio

In deciding which proposals to fund, the Science Board considers the eligibility and assessment criteria and other considerations in the Gazette Notice, which includes:

the investment signals and mix of investment in the relevant annual Investment Plan;

the government’s Vision Mātauranga policy.

The Science Board’s funding decisions are informed by the recommendations of independent, external, expert assessors. In making its funding decisions, the Science Board may decide to invest less than the total funding indicated. It may also make decisions that result in more or less funding than indicated in the Investment Plan being invested in an investment mechanism or a Fund objective.

Funding of individual proposals

When allocating funds to a proposal, the Science Board may:

set pre-contractual conditions that must be met before MBIE and the applicant organisation can enter into a Science Investment Contract

set special conditions in addition to the general terms and conditions set out in the Science Investment Contract

vary the proposed term of a proposal, or require specified conditions to be met during the term of a contract before the proposal is funded for the full term

vary the funding allocated from that requested.

8

Contracting If the Science Board decides to fund your proposal, MBIE will enter into a Science Investment Contract and an associated Work Programme Agreement with your organisation (subject to any pre-contractual conditions being met). Work Programme Agreements set out the details of the research, science and technology and related activities for which you have been funded and, subject to any variation required by the Science Board, are extracted directly from the information you provide in your proposal. When you submit your proposal you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Science Investment Contract. You therefore need to be familiar with the content of the contract.

Appendix A: Call for Proposals glossary Alert e-newsletter

A web-based communication tool used by MBIE to provide up-to-date information on its activities, including the Endeavour Round. You can subscribe to Endeavour Round Alerts here.

Assessors

Independent experts, appointed by MBIE, who will assess proposals against criteria set out in the Gazette Notice.

Call for Proposals

A mechanism for inviting eligible organisations to submit proposals to MBIE for the allocation of science funding. The Call for Proposals is one of a suite of documents that provides guidance for applicants on preparation of proposals and MBIE’s contestable investment process.

Confidential Information

Information that:

a) is by its nature confidential

b) is marked by either MBIE or an applicant as ‘confidential’, ‘commercially sensitive’, ‘sensitive’, ‘in confidence’, ‘top secret’, ‘secret’, classified’ and/or ‘restricted’

c) is provided by MBIE, an applicant, or a third party in confidence

d) MBIE or an applicant knows, or ought to know, is confidential.

Confidential information does not cover information that is in the public domain through no fault of either MBIE or an applicant.

Conflict of interest

Conflicts may occur at various levels, for example:

Direct involvement in a proposal (eg, as a collaborator), a close professional or personal relationship with the applicant, direct involvement in a competing proposal.

Indirect an employee of the same organisation as the applicant, but not directly conflicted, a professional or personal acquaintance with the applicant, indirect involvement in a competing proposal.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons, best known for its licenses, is a global non-profit organisation that enables sharing and reuse of creativity and knowledge through the provision of free legal tools. You can read more about Creative Commons at http://creativecommons.org/.

Excellence

Attributes of excellence of science and of the team are listed in the Gazette Notice;.

For science, excellence attributes include well-designed, well-performed, well-positioned in the domestic and international research context, progresses and disseminates new knowledge, possesses high scientific risk, technical risk, a well-managed research plan, a credible approach to risk management, and leverages additional value from wider research.

For team, excellence attributes include a mix of complementary skills, knowledge and resources to deliver the proposed RS&T or related activities and to manage risk.

You should read the Gazette Notice for a full statement of Excellence with respect to assessment.

Gazette Notice

Items (notices) in the New Zealand Gazette, the Government’s official newspaper that is produced every Thursday by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Minister of Science and Innovation issues a Gazette Notice to instruct the Science Board on assessing proposals for contestable funding, by setting out policy objectives, eligibility and assessment criteria.

Impact

Attributes of Impact listed in the Gazette Notice include direct and indirect benefits or effects on individuals, communities or society as a whole, including broad benefits to New Zealand’s economic, social, human or natural capital. You should read the Gazette Notice for a full statement of Impact with respect to assessment criteria.

IMS portal

The online interface through which applicants submit proposals and MBIE manages contracts.

Investment Plan

The Government’s statement of how it intends to invest in research, science and technology and related activities through annual contestable investment rounds. The Plan is published every year, with a three-year time horizon to help researchers better plan their research and allow them more time to develop research proposals. The current Investment Plan covers 2016–2019.

Research organisation

An organisation that has internal capability for carrying out research, science, or technology or related activities (RS&T).

Science Board

The Board established by the Minister of Science and Innovation under the Research, Science, and Technology Act 2010 to make funding decisions.

Science investment contract

The standard terms and conditions under which the Science Board agrees to allocate funding.

Vision Mātauranga

Government policy that aims to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, people and resources for the benefit of New Zealand. The Vision Mātauranga policy applies to all MBIE’s science investments.

Work Programme Agreement

An Agreement between MBIE and applicant organisations that receive funding, that is entered into for a programme of research, science or technology or related activities.

Appendix B: Linked documents The table below provides the Web addresses (URL) of documents hyperlinked in the Web-based version of this Call for Proposals.

DOCUMENT ON THE WEB

2017 Science Investment Q&A

Following roadshows in October. An Alert will be posted when Q&A are available

ANZSRC codes

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Latestproducts/1297.0Main%20 Features52008?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1297.0 &issue=2008&num=&view= (cut and paste link into your browser)

Business Growth Agenda

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-growth-agenda

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand (CC-BY)

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/nz/legalcode

Environmental data policy statement

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/publications-research/publications/science-and-innovation/MBIE_Environmental-Data-Management-Policy-Statement.pdf/view?searchterm=environmental%20data

Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal

Applicant Guidelines for Completing a Proposal

Assessor Guidelines for Smart Ideas (including Scoring Guide)

An Alert will be posted when Assessor Guidelines for Smart Ideas are available

Assessor Guidelines for Research Programmes (including Scoring Guide)

An Alert will be posted when Assessor Guidelines for Research Programmes are available

New Zealand Gazette Notice, Number 2016-go4875, August 2016

https://www.gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2016-go4875 (or see Annex 1 in the Endeavour Fund Investment Plan 2016–2019)

He Kai Kei Aku Ringa

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/documents/download/215/He-Kai-Kei-Aku-Ringa-Strategy.pdf (cut and paste link into your browser)

DOCUMENT ON THE WEB

Endeavour Fund Investment Plan 2016–2019 (including the Gazette Notice)

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/current-funding/2017-science-investment-round/document-image-library/mbie-endeavour-fund-investment-plan-2016-2019.pdf

MBIE contestable funding website

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/how-we-invest/contestable-funding

MBIE Alert e-newsletter (to subscribe)

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/subscribe

NZ Government Open Access and Licensing Framework

http://ict.govt.nz/guidance-and-resources/information-and-data/nzgoal/

Official Information Act

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1982/0156/latest/DLM64785.html

Portal Guidelines for Applicants

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/current-funding/2017-endeavour-round/document-image-library/portal-guidelines-applicants.pdf

Science Board membership

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/our-people/our-external-boards/mbie-science-board

Science Investment Contract

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/investment-funding/current-funding/science-investment-round/document-image-library/science-investment-contract.pdf

Scoring guides

See Assessors Guidelines for Smart Ideas/Research Programmes

State Sector Act

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1988/0020/latest/DLM129110.html

Vision Mātauranga policy

http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/science-innovation/unlocking-maori-potential

Appendix C: Terms and conditions related to the Endeavour Fund Call for Proposals 1. General 1.1 The terms and conditions are non-negotiable and do not require a response. Each applicant

that submits a proposal (hereafter referred to as “you”) will be deemed to have agreed to the Call for Proposals terms and conditions without reservation or variation.

2. Investigations and reliance on information 2.1 You must examine this Call for Proposals and any documents referenced by this Call for

Proposals and carry out all necessary investigations before submitting a proposal. If you are in doubt as to the meaning of any part of this Call for Proposals, you must set out in your proposal the interpretation and any assumptions you used.

2.2 MBIE will not be liable (in contract or tort, including negligence, or otherwise) to anyone who relies on any information provided by or on behalf of MBIE in or in connection with this Call for Proposals.

3. Reliance by applicants 3.1 All information contained in this Call for Proposals or given to you by MBIE is for the purpose

of allowing you to prepare your proposal. MBIE has endeavoured to ensure the integrity of such information. However, it has not been independently verified and may not be up to date.

4. Reliance by MBIE 4.1 MBIE may rely upon all statements you make in your proposal and in correspondence or

negotiations with MBIE or its representatives. If a proposal is funded by MBIE, any such statements may be included in a Work Programme Agreement.

4.2 You must ensure all information you provide to MBIE is complete and accurate. MBIE is under no obligation to check any proposal for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies. You must notify MBIE promptly upon becoming aware of any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in your proposal or in any additional information you provide.

5. Inducements 5.1 You must not directly or indirectly provide any form of inducement or reward to any

assessment panel member, officer, employee, advisor, or other representative of MBIE in connection with this Call for Proposals.

5.2 Business-as-usual communications (relating to funding under existing arrangements between MBIE and your organisation) will be maintained with the usual contacts. However, during the Call for Proposals process, you must not use business-as-usual contacts to solicit or discuss details of this Call for Proposals or any proposal you have, or intend to, submit, with any person at MBIE or its agents, including the assessment panel members.

6. Ownership and intellectual property 6.1 This Call for Proposals and any other documents MBIE provides to you remain the property of

MBIE. All copyright and other rights in this Call for Proposals and in any other documentation or information provided to you or any other person by or on behalf of MBIE in connection with this Call for Proposals will remain with, and belong at all times to, MBIE or its licensors.

6.2 MBIE may request at any time the immediate return of all documents supplied and any copies made of them. You must comply with any such request in a timely manner.

6.3 Any proposals or information you supply to MBIE will become the property of MBIE and may not be returned to you. Ownership of the Intellectual Property rights in a proposal does not pass to MBIE. However, in submitting your proposal, you grant MBIE a non-exclusive, non-transferable, perpetual licence to retain, use, disclose, and copy your proposal for any purpose related to this Call for Proposals process.

6.4 By submitting a proposal, you warrant that the provision to MBIE of the information contained in your proposal, and MBIE’s use of it for the evaluation of your proposal and for any resulting negotiation, will not breach any third-party intellectual property rights.

7. Confidentiality 7.1 You and MBIE will each take reasonable steps to protect Confidential Information and, subject

to paragraph 7.3, and without limiting any confidentiality undertaking agreed between them, will not disclose Confidential Information to a third party without the other’s prior written consent.

7.2 You and MBIE may each disclose Confidential Information to any person who is directly involved in the Call for Proposals process on its behalf, such as officers, employees, consultants, contractors, professional advisors, evaluation panel members, partners, principals or directors, but only for the purpose of participating in the Call for Proposals.

7.3 You acknowledge that MBIE’s obligations under paragraph 7.1 are subject to requirements imposed by the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), the Privacy Act 1993, parliamentary and constitutional convention and any other obligations imposed by law. Where MBIE receives an OIA request that relates to your Confidential Information, MBIE will consult with you and may ask you to explain why the information is considered by you to be confidential or commercially sensitive.

8. The proposal process 8.1 Despite any other provision in the Call for Proposals, MBIE reserves the following rights:

MBIE may amend, suspend, cancel and/or re-issue the Call for Proposals, or any part of the Call for Proposals.

MBIE may make any material change to the Call for Proposals (including any date) on the condition that you are given a reasonable time within which to respond to the change.

MBIE may waive irregularities or requirements in or during the Call for Proposals process where it considers it appropriate and reasonable to do so.

Your proposal may not be approved for funding.

All or any proposal(s) may be rejected.

Your proposal may be accepted in whole, or in part.

Any information you provide to MBIE with your proposal may be retained or destroyed.

Clarification may be sought from any applicant(s) in relation to any matter in connection with this Call for Proposals process.

Any applicant(s) may be contacted, which may be to the exclusion of any other applicant(s), at any time before or after the approval (if any) of proposal(s).

MBIE may reject, or not consider further, any documentation related to your proposal that may be received from you, unless it is specifically requested.

This Call for Proposals process may be run in such manner as MBIE may see fit. 9. No contractual obligations created 9.1 No contract or other legal obligations arise between you and MBIE out of or in relation to this

Call for Proposals or Call for Proposals process, until a formal written contract (if any) is signed by both you and MBIE.

9.2 This Call for Proposals does not constitute an offer by MBIE to provide funding or enter into any agreement with you. The call for and receipt of proposals does not imply any obligation

on MBIE to contract any funding requested in your proposal. MBIE will not be bound in any way until a science investment contract is executed.

9.3 MBIE makes no representations nor gives any warranties in this Call for Proposals. 9.4 Any verbal communications made during the Call for Proposals process will not be binding on

MBIE and are subject to the terms of this Call for Proposals. 10. No process contract 10.1 Despite any other provision in this Call for Proposals or any other document relating to this

Call for Proposals, the issue of this Call for Proposals does not legally oblige or otherwise commit MBIE to proceed with or follow the process outlined in this Call for Proposals or to assess your proposal or enter into any negotiations or contractual arrangements with you.

10.2 For the avoidance of doubt, this Call for Proposals process does not give rise to a process contract.

11 Exclusion of liability 11.1 Neither MBIE nor any assessment panel members, officers, employees, advisers or other

representatives will be liable (in contract or tort, including negligence, or otherwise) for any direct or indirect damage, expense, loss or cost (including legal costs) incurred or suffered by you, your affiliates or any other person in connection with this Call for Proposals process, including without limitation: a) the assessment process b) the preparation of any proposal c) any investigations of or by any applicant d) concluding any contract e) the acceptance or rejection of any proposal f) the suspension or cancellation of the process contemplated in this Call for Proposals, or g) any information given or not given to any applicant(s).

11.2 By participating in this Call for Proposals process, you waive any rights you may have to make any claim against MBIE. To the extent that legal relations between MBIE and you cannot be excluded as a matter of law, the liability of MBIE is limited to $1.

11.3 Nothing contained or implied in or arising out of this Call for Proposals or any other communications to any applicant shall be construed as legal, financial, or other advice of any kind.

12 Costs and expenses 12.1 MBIE is not responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you in the preparation of a

proposal. 13 Governing law and jurisdiction 13.1 This Call for Proposals will be construed according to, and governed by, New Zealand law and

you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of New Zealand courts in any dispute concerning this Call for Proposals or any proposal.

14 Public statements

MBIE may make public the following information:

the names of project team members

the proposal title

the research fund from which the proposal would be funded

the public statement given by the project team when applying for funding

the total amount of funding and the period of time for which funding has been approved

the sector to which the research relates.

15 MBIE asks that you don’t release any media statement or other information relating to the

process outlined in this Call for Proposals, or the submission or approval of any proposal to any public medium without providing sufficient advance Notice to MBIE.