Return On Science

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.

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

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

• Research commercialisation
• Technology transfer
• Investment committees
• Pre-seed funding
• Innovation advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The LighthousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 UniVenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity technology transfer office and commercialisation partner of Return On Science, connecting university researchers with the programme.
• University of AucklandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university research institution and partner, with UniServices (its commercialisation arm) listed as a programme supporter.
• AUT VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuckland University of Technology's commercialisation and investment arm, partnering with Return On Science.
• Massey VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassey University's technology transfer office, connecting university researchers with the Return On Science programme.
• University of OtagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor New Zealand university with research commercialisation partnerships through Otago Innovation Limited.
• University of Canterbury Research and InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Canterbury's research and innovation unit, connecting researchers with Return On Science.
• Victoria University of WellingtonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Wellington-based university, connecting researchers with the Return On Science programme.
• Waikato UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity with enterprise and innovation unit connecting researchers to the programme.
• KiwinetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's peak body for research commercialisation professionals, supporting the research ecosystem.
• MacDiarmid InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's national institute for materials science and technology, a CRI partnership.
• Maurice Wilkins CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational centre for biomedical research and commercialisation in New Zealand.
• Lincoln UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand university with research and innovation focus, connected through Lincoln Agritech.
• Otago Innovation LimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Otago's commercialisation company, connecting researchers with the programme.
• Lincoln AgritechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural technology research and development company linked to Lincoln University.
• PHF ScienceminorOthersScience research institute partner in the ecosystem.
• Medtech IQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand medtech industry network and knowledge hub partner.
• MomentumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation working within the innovation ecosystem.
• TekoaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation in the New Zealand innovation ecosystem.
• Dodd WallsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch centre focused on quantum optics and smart research technologies.
• Institute for Earth Sciences NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarth sciences research institute partner.
• Bioeconomy Science InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience institute focused on bioeconomy research and development.
• Health Innovation Hub (HIH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand health innovation hub connecting health research with commercialisation pathways.
• Health Research Council (HRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand government agency funding health research, part of the broader ecosystem.
• Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Auckland's innovation and entrepreneurship centre.
• Creative HQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellington-based startup support and innovation hub partner.
• AcademyEXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation and technology futures education partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ReturnOnScience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/return-on-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Return On Science