Research grants

The Ember Innovations Research Grants 2023

Ember Innovations proudly presents two distinct research grant opportunities for Auckland University research projects that align with our commitment to innovation, mental health, and honouring lived experiences.

Ember Innovations Team

Aug 24, 2023 • 3 min read

Call for Applications Open Now – Two transformative research opportunities await.

Ember Innovations proudly presents two distinct research grant opportunities for Auckland University research projects that align with our commitment to innovation, mental health, and honouring lived experiences.

These two grants reflect our dedication to supporting a broad spectrum of research that contributes to understanding mental health and wellbeing, fostering innovation, and leveraging personal experiences to create meaningful impact. We invite researchers who share our vision to apply.

Wellbeing Innovation Research Grant

Mental health, addiction, and holistic wellbeing category

Ember Innovations warmly welcomes applications from visionary researchers eager to usher in a new era of mental health, substance harm, and wellbeing solutions. Our aspiration is for everyone to access the help they need, precisely when they require it. We're particularly keen on funding research that not only brings forth ground-breaking approaches to mental wellbeing, intervention, and addiction handling, but also stands distinctly apart from existing methods. While we're receptive to any innovative research, we're especially interested by studies focussing on Mātauranga Māori, AI and emerging technologies, and those crafted in close collaboration with communities most in need.

In future years, we are interested in researchers wanting to walk closely alongside the Ember Innovations' "Challenge Process" to inform our work. Email kiaora@emberinnovations.nz to find out more, or visit our “Challenge” project on the website to find out more.

Qualification Level: Masters or above

CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION

• Focus areas: Mental Health, Substance or non-substance harm treatment, intervention, prevention, or promotion.
• Of particular interest (but not essential criteria) Mātauranga Māori, A.I., Machine Learning and/or emerging technologies, and studies crafted in close collaboration with communities most in need
• Must champion innovation.
• Can encompass health, societal, or creative arts perspectives.
• Excludes strictly medical approaches.

Lived Experience Research Grant

For research in any discipline/category led by a researcher with personal experience of mental distress or substance, or non-substance harm

With an ardent vision for a New Zealand that has a more compassionate response to mental health, addiction, and intellectual disability, Ember acknowledges the invaluable insights that researchers with personal journeys of mental distress or substance harm bring. Despite the accomplishments made by individuals with lived experiences, societal obstacles such as self-stigma, prejudice, and discrimination persistently endure. Through this grant, we aim to not only boost the academic careers of researchers embracing their lived experiences of mental distress and substance harm recovery but also amplify the significant contributions they're already making to research. By doing so, we hope to recalibrate perceptions around lived experiences within academic circles.
Whilst the focus of this research does not have to be on mental health, the researcher must be willing to be open about their lived experience. Ember is committed to providing guidance on the safe and appropriate sharing of Lived Experience to the successful grant recipient(s).

Qualification Level: Masters or above

CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION
• Open to any research topic, area or discipline.
• Explicitly invites researchers who are transparent about their own lived experience and the invaluable insights their recovery journey provides.
• Ember can help with guidance for the successful recipient/s on safe sharing of their lived or living experiences

General criteria (for both grants)

Candidates must exhibit a strong inclination to publish their research.

The highest funding available is $50,000. Funding duration can stretch up to 3 years. No overheads are allowed to be budgeted for.

Important dates

Information Workshop (optional)

12^th September 2023.
1pm – 2:30pm with light refreshments and networking until 3pm
University of Auckland Campus 49 Symonds St - Room 501
An opportunity to ask questions, meet the Panel and hear from previous recipients.
RSVPs essential - click here.