Applying for Research Funding


Wool Industry Research Limited (WIRL) fund both Industry Good and Company Specific research.  "Industry Good" research is funded in order that the outcomes are able to be utilised directly by all NZ wool users that might benefit from their use, and as such the intellectual property generated from the investments are generally wholly owned by WIRL. Research priorities are established by the Wool Advisory Group who make recommendations to the Board, and who also review the resulting applications from research providers and recommend which applications should be supported.



Industry Good Funding Applications


Industry Good investments will normally be pursued through a Request for Proposals process conducted with both New Zealand based, and international research providers well in advance of the investment period.  It is expected that a new RFP round will be advertised around September 2011.

Contact us for more information on Industry Good research, or to find out more about the priorities and timing of the next RFP.

Company Specific Funding Applications


Companies with an interest in NZ wool are welcome to apply to WIRL for funding to support a "Company Specific" research application at any time. The WIRL Board prefer to support commercially driven proposals that will add value to, and diversify the NZ wool industry, and subject to having sufficient uncommitted funds, will support applications provided that they:

                                                        1.     Contribute towards meeting WIRL’s kpi’s

                                                        2.     Bring a minimum of 30% of the cash requirement for the research

                                         3.     Have a positive business case and supporting commercialisation plan

Ownership of the intellectual property resulting from company specific research investment will be passed to the applicant provided that they meet previously agreed commercialisation targets. In these cases the applicant may also select the research provider, and take responsibility for the management of the delivery of the research. The four general areas of investment contemplated by WIRL are: 

•     Securing wool’s position as a sustainable, natural fibre
•     Minimising and eliminating obstacles to wool’s use and performance
•     Exploiting wool’s positive intrinsic characteristics
•     Developing new value/new uses for New Zealand wool

 Contact us to obtain more information, or to obtain an application form for Company Specific funding, click the following link: 

       Download Word doc:    WIRL Company Specific Application