Software firms fear loss of growth grant will undermine competitiveness 17 Mar, 2021 07:22 PM 6 minutes to read Then mall Business Minister Stuart Nash, Green Party spokesperson for Small business Chloe Swarbrick and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reveal the new policy in 2018. Photo / Chris Keall. RNZ By Emma Hatton of RNZ Software companies say they've been all but written out of the government's new Research and Development (R&D) funding system, which - after a long runup - begins in just over two weeks' time. Read More From April 1 a tax incentive will replace the Callaghan Innovation R&D growth grant. With the change comes a new criteria that would allow more businesses to apply, but a narrowed scope for what was considered R&D.