File photo. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
The government will spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to support 68 smart ideas and research programmes, as part of its Endeavours Fund.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) fund allocated $246 million to projects with potential to help the economy, environment and society.
"Endeavour is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest contestable fund to invest in excellent, innovative research with a focus on areas of future value, growth or critical need for New Zealand," MBIE contestable Investments manager Alan Coulson said.
The latest round funded a project that looked at the the future of lakes and freshwater management, another that looked at how smart wearable technology could assist people with neurological disorders and another exploring the future food systems.
The funding decisions were made by the MBIE-appointed Science Board.
A full list of Endeavour recipients for the 2023 investment round can be viewed on MBIE's website.