Return On Science
Return On Science is a New Zealand government-funded advisory programme that evaluates and accelerates commercialisation of early-stage deep-tech research from publicly funded institutes through five domain-specific expert committees and Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Return On Science does
Return On Science is a national research commercialisation advisory and investment programme based in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. It operates as a free service to researchers and innovators from publicly funded research institutes, evaluating early-stage technologies and connecting them with capital, networks, and commercialisation pathways. The programme is structured around five domain-specific Investment Committees covering Agritech & Foodtech, Biotech & Pharma, Digital Technologies, Medtech & Surgery, and Physical Sciences. Each committee is staffed by a mix of generalist investors, successful entrepreneurs, industry partners, and subject matter experts drawn from a network of over 50 leading academic and commercial figures across New Zealand.
The core service workflow is a standardised five-step evaluation process: project registration (via Airtable forms), an initial background meeting, materials submission, a committee presentation (10-minute pitch plus 50-minute discussion), and delivery of recommendations within one week. The programme does not develop proprietary technology products; its primary technology surface is a Squarespace-based website and Airtable-driven intake forms that funnel project submissions into the committee process. Outputs for researchers include expert evaluation, project de-risking, IP and regulatory pathway guidance, connections to domestic and international commercialisation networks, and a direct pipeline to the government's Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund (PSAF) for early-stage capital.
Return On Science is stewarded by The Lighthouse, the parent organisation overseeing three commercialisation programmes in New Zealand. The programme is a foundation partner in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) Commercialisation Partner Network (CPN) and is funded by MBIE, meaning it charges no fees to researchers. Commercialisation outcomes are operationally supported by UniServices and MBIE. The programme maintains formal partnerships with all eight New Zealand universities, multiple Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and sector bodies including Kiwinet, MacDiarmid Institute, Maurice Wilkins Centre, Health Research Council, Medtech IQ, Creative HQ, and others, giving it national reach across the country's research commercialisation ecosystem.
Return On Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Return On Science
- Legal name
- Return On Science
- Website
- https://returnonscience.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Return On Science is a New Zealand government-funded advisory programme that evaluates and accelerates commercialisation of early-stage deep-tech research from publicly funded institutes through five domain-specific expert committees and Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Return On Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research Commercialisation Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)
Keywords
Where Return On Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Return On Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government-funded programme: Return On Science is a free advisory programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) through the Commercialisation Partner Network (CPN). The programme does not charge researchers or innovators for its services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Return On Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Return On Science is a national research commercialisation advisory and investment programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. It runs five domain-specific investment committees staffed by 50+ academic and commercial experts who evaluate early-stage technologies emerging from publicly funded research institutes, deliver tailored feedback and recommendations within one week, de-risk projects, and connect researchers with global investor networks and the Government's Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund. The programme is funded by MBIE through the Commercialisation Partner Network and is offered free of charge to researchers and innovators.
Product overview
Return On Science is a national research commercialisation advisory and investment programme structured around five domain-specific Investment Committees (Agritech & Foodtech, Biotech & Pharma, Digital Technologies, Medtech & Surgery, and Physical Sciences). The core programme connects researchers and innovators with these tailored committees who provide expert evaluation, project de-risking, networking opportunities, and access to capital including the Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund. Presenters receive committee recommendations, key considerations, connections, and potential investment decisions within one week of their presentation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Research Commercialisation Advisory Programme A national advisory programme that connects researchers and innovators at publicly funded New Zealand research institutes with five domain-specific investment committees. The programme delivers expert evaluation, tailored recommendations within one week of presentation, project de-risking, network introductions, and a pipeline to the Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund. It is offered free of charge to researchers and funded by MBIE.
- Agritech & Foodtech Committee Domain-specific investment committee supporting innovation across aquaculture, water and marine technology, agriculture, food systems, biotech, sustainability, animal health, and crop and plant technology. Staffed by generalist investors, entrepreneurs, industry partners, and on-demand subject matter experts.
- Biotech & Pharma Committee Investment committee supporting scientific breakthroughs in drug development, molecular biology, advanced medical therapies, bio-medicine, advanced materials, and environmental informatics for disease treatment and diagnostics.
- Digital Technologies Committee Investment committee advising on commercialisation of software, AI, data-driven solutions, fintech, and web3 technologies, with expertise in technical feasibility, user experience, compliance, and ethical design.
- Medtech & Surgery Committee Investment committee supporting development of transformative medical technologies and surgical innovations, evaluating technologies from concept to clinical deployment with guidance on regulatory pathways and market fit.
- Physical Sciences Committee Investment committee with expertise in engineering, material sciences, chemistry, wearables, physics, industrial design, prototyping, manufacturing, and compliance, advising on technically sound and scalable technologies.
Companies that use Return On Science
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Return On Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Return On Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The LighthousecoreThe Lighthouse is the parent organisation stewarding Return On Science and two other programmes, dedicated to illuminating commercialisation pathways across New Zealand's science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Return On Science is one of three programmes under The Lighthouse.
- Wellington UniVenturesmajorUniversity technology transfer office and commercialisation partner of Return On Science, connecting university researchers with the programme.
- University of AucklandmajorMajor university research institution and partner, with UniServices (its commercialisation arm) listed as a programme supporter.
- AUT VenturesmajorAuckland University of Technology's commercialisation and investment arm, partnering with Return On Science.
- Massey VenturesmajorMassey University's technology transfer office, connecting university researchers with the Return On Science programme.
- University of OtagomajorMajor New Zealand university with research commercialisation partnerships through Otago Innovation Limited.
- University of Canterbury Research and InnovationmajorUniversity of Canterbury's research and innovation unit, connecting researchers with Return On Science.
- Victoria University of WellingtonmajorMajor Wellington-based university, connecting researchers with the Return On Science programme.
- Waikato UniversitymajorUniversity with enterprise and innovation unit connecting researchers to the programme.
- KiwinetmajorNew Zealand's peak body for research commercialisation professionals, supporting the research ecosystem.
- MacDiarmid InstituteminorNew Zealand's national institute for materials science and technology, a CRI partnership.
- Maurice Wilkins CentreminorNational centre for biomedical research and commercialisation in New Zealand.
- Lincoln UniversitymajorNew Zealand university with research and innovation focus, connected through Lincoln Agritech.
- Otago Innovation LimitedmajorUniversity of Otago's commercialisation company, connecting researchers with the programme.
- Lincoln AgritechminorAgricultural technology research and development company linked to Lincoln University.
- PHF ScienceminorScience research institute partner in the ecosystem.
- Medtech IQminorNew Zealand medtech industry network and knowledge hub partner.
- MomentumminorPartner organisation working within the innovation ecosystem.
- TekoaraminorPartner organisation in the New Zealand innovation ecosystem.
- Dodd WallsminorResearch centre focused on quantum optics and smart research technologies.
- Institute for Earth Sciences NZminorEarth sciences research institute partner.
- Bioeconomy Science InstituteminorScience institute focused on bioeconomy research and development.
- Health Innovation Hub (HIH)minorNew Zealand health innovation hub connecting health research with commercialisation pathways.
- Health Research Council (HRC)minorNew Zealand government agency funding health research, part of the broader ecosystem.
- Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)minorUniversity of Auckland's innovation and entrepreneurship centre.
- Creative HQminorWellington-based startup support and innovation hub partner.
- AcademyEXminorInnovation and technology futures education partner.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Return On Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Return On Science social profiles
Digital presenceReturn On Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Return On Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Return On Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Return On Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Return On Science
What does Return On Science do?
Return On Science is a national research commercialisation advisory and investment programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. It runs five domain-specific investment committees staffed by 50+ academic and commercial experts who evaluate early-stage technologies emerging from publicly funded research institutes, deliver tailored feedback and recommendations within one week, de-risk projects, and connect researchers with global investor networks and the Government's Pre-Seed Accelerator Fund. The programme is funded by MBIE through the Commercialisation Partner Network and is offered free of charge to researchers and innovators.
Is Return On Science a public or private company?
Return On Science is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Return On Science founded?
Return On Science was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Return On Science based?
Return On Science is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Return On Science make money?
One revenue line is on record: government-funded programme.
Does Return On Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Return On Science.
What industry is Return On Science in?
Return On Science's product category is Research Commercialisation Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEALAO, Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance), with a secondary code of EDADAKAH, Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB). Its NAICS code is 5417.