This system doesn’t just hurt researchers. It undermines collaboration, distorts project design, and weakens Aotearoa’s ability to compete globally. It’s a funding model that rewards cost-cutting over curiosity.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, research grants don’t just fund research. They also pay for buildings, admin, IT, and even profit margins. That’s because institutions rely heavily on indirect cost recovery – aka “overheads” – to stay afloat 🧪🧵