The NZDF wishes to actively support innovation from New Zealand sources which can improve its operational performance.
Such ideas arise from a number of sources, and most require further development. The NZDF has limited funds for R & D, but, for products which appear to have potential value to the NZDF or wider defence markets, is willing to support funding applications to business development agencies such as Industry New Zealand, and to help in other practical ways.
How an application is handled depends on a number of things:
- Origin of the idea (within the NZDF or elsewhere)
- Whether it is new, meets an identified need or solves a known problem
- The amount of further development required, and the extent to which the NZDF can contribute to it
- How the proposals affect interoperability with allies and/or commonality between the Services
- Any potential defence market, which can be used to offset the costs.
- Intellectual property issues
- Integrity of main assemblies (eg modification to aircraft components)
The NZDF will undertake to assess the idea from viewpoints of utility, practicality, need, operational effectiveness etc, and make recommendations as to whether further development might be justified. How this would proceed depends on the circumstances of each case.
Except in very rare cases, the NZDF will not “endorse” a product or company, but rather will provide technical evaluation or general comment.