Applications open for the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund 2019

Applications for the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund 2019/2020 open on Monday 30 September and close on Monday 21 October 2019.

Applications for the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund 2019/2020 open on Monday 30 September and close on Monday 21 October 2019.

What is the Digital Government Partnership Innovation Fund?

The Digital Government Partnership (DGP) Innovation Fund is a $5 million contestable fund that invests in digital and data innovation.

The fund provides an opportunity for agencies to collaborate and invest in early stage cross-agency pilots and prototypes.

It is administered by the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) team at the Department of Internal Affairs.

Who is eligible?

Applications must be led from one of the following New Zealand State sector organisations.

Public service departments

• Crown Law Office
• Department of Conservation
• Department of Corrections
• Department of Internal Affairs
• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Education Review Office
• Government Communications Security Bureau
• Inland Revenue Department
• Land Information New Zealand
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry for the Environment
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Maori Development
• Ministry for Pacific Peoples
• Ministry for Primary Industries
• Ministry of Social Development
• Ministry of Transport
• Ministry for Women
• New Zealand Customs Service
• New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
• Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children
• Serious Fraud Office
• State Services Commission
• Statistics
• Te Kāhui Whakamana Rua Tekau mā Iwa—Pike River Recovery Agency
• Treasury

Departmental agencies

• Social Investment Agency
• Te Arawhiti — Māori Crown Relations Office

Non-public service departments

• New Zealand Defence Force
• New Zealand Police
• Parliamentary Counsel Office

Crown entities

• Accident Compensation Corporation
• District Health Boards
• Earthquake Commission
• Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (formerly Housing New Zealand)
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
• New Zealand Transport Authority
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority
• Tertiary Education Commission

Application process

Steps in the application process.

1. 1. Identify problem/opportunity and develop a Lean Canvas — a template is available on request.
2. 2. Contact the GCDO team to work through the submission process — email innovationfund@dia.govt.nz.
3. 3. Submit Lean Canvas by Monday 21 October, 2019.
4. 4. Applications reviewed and initial feedback provided.
5. 5. Candidates chosen to progress to the next stage invited to pitch ideas in late October/early November.
6. 6. Successful applicants from the pitch stage announced in late November.

Criteria

Applications must show:

• how the initiative aligns with government priorities
• how the investment will contribute to New Zealanders’ seamless and integrated experience of, and trust in, public services
• how the initiative demonstrates innovation — this fund is not for business as usual costs
• the role collaboration plays in the initiative, including the nature of that collaboration
• benefits to the public service or sector that support transformation, including being able to reuse initiatives or parts of initiatives
• initiative costs, and outline options for sustainable funding if the initiative were to become business as usual.

Applicants should also demonstrate how the:

• initiative will be evaluated
• work aligns with agile values and principles, including how any collaboration benefits the agencies involved
• work will align with relevant standards, for example the New Zealand government Digital Service Design Standard.

2018/2019 fund

The 2018/2019 fund was distributed to 10 initiatives led by a range of agencies to deliver collaborative, innovative outcomes.

This included the:

• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Justice
• New Zealand Police.

Examples of the initiatives are:

• work piloting digital arrival cards, led by the New Zealand Customs Service
• work to co-design Māori Data Governance, led by Stats NZ
• a prototype of a public consultation platform for young people, led by the Ministry of Social Development.

Contact

For applications and queries email innovationfund@dia.govt.nz.