Home

Kenya traditionally has a structure of small farms over large areas of land where farmers grow a wide variety of food and industrial crops. Most of the farm operations are being carried out by hand. Crops are harvested manually, dried and threshed on the farm before being transported for sale. This post-harvest grain handling leads to an estimated 20-30% yield loss, affecting farmers’ revenue and livelihood.

This iX challenge is looking for novel solutions to minimise the loss of grain during the threshing process.

Up to £25,000 seed funding is available (subject to T&C) to collaborate with the challenge holder on each specific challenge.

Online information session and Q&A about this challenge on 24th June 2022

Click here to register for the information session. 

Click here to register and apply

Global Alliance Africa is supporting a large agri-based manufacturing company to find innovative solutions to prevent crop damage caused by migrating birds.

Damage to crops by birds is an enormous challenge in Africa. As the Birds migrate across the country, they often find suitable food sources in farm crops.  The birds will nest nearby in great numbers and take advantage of the localised, plentiful food supply. The destruction of these flocks is not allowed so the farmers need to find a way of either keeping them from landing on the crops or moving them on further down their migration routes.

This iX challenge is looking for novel solutions to address the challenge.

Up to £25,000 seed funding is available (subject to T&C) to collaborate with the challenge holder on each specific challenge.

Online information session and Q&A about this challenge on 24th June 2022

Click here to register for the information session. 

Click here to register and apply. 

Stellenbosch Network in partnership with the Sustainability Institute and the Department of Science & Innovation’s Regional Innovation Support Programme (RISP)  have launched the third #IdeasForChange Challenge.

The #IdeasForChange Challenge is calling on innovators in Stellenbosch to present their solutions to an existing problem that the community faces, which may reflect a global or national challenge such as food security, energy and poverty.

Click here to submit an application. 

Technology and Human Resource for Industry Programme (THRIP) is a cost-sharing grant of up to R8 million per annum for a period of 3 years for approved projects engaged in applied research and development (R&D) in science, engineering and technology.

Click here to submit an application. 

Click here to submit a claim.

The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme develops export markets for South African products and services and recruits new foreign direct investment into the country.

Click here to submit an application. 

Click here to submit a claim. 

The programme support for the Clothing Textile Footwear Leather (CTFL) sectors through five policy levers of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic):

• Clothing Textile Footwear Leather Growth Programme (CTFLGP) to boost customised financing and value chain competitiveness;
• Designation of Clothing Textile Footwear Leather under Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act Regulation for 100% local contents;
• Retail – Clothing Textile Footwear Leather (R-CTFL) Masterplan 2030;
• Developing and implementing policies for improved growth, competitiveness, new decent jobs and sustainability of the Clothing Textile Footwear Leather industries; and
• Enabling innovation and technology demonstration, value chain strategies as well as the development of relevant skills for the sectors through the various clusters.

Youth Technology Innovation Programme (YTIP) exists to drive and increase the participation of young people in the economy by providing funding for the development of techno-enterprises. The Programme is targeted at funding and supporting youth, between the ages of 18-30, who have innovative ideas that have the potential to establish new businesses.

Purpose of the Programme 

• Fund development of innovative ideas to solve various social and technological problems
• Create and enable access to infrastructure and services, mentoring and incubation, to support development and commercialisation of youth-led technology-enterprises
• Accelerate the commercialisation and uptake of youth-led technology-enterprises

Click here to register and apply. 

The Critical Infrastructure Programme (CIP) aims to leverage investment by supporting infrastructure that is deemed to be critical, thus lowering the cost of doing business. The CIP is a cost-sharing incentive that is available to the approved applicant/s or infrastructure project/s upon the completion of verifiable milestones or as may be approved by the Adjudication Committee.  Infrastructure is deemed “critical” to the investment if such investment would not take place without the said infrastructure or the said investment would not operate optimally.

Click here to submit an application.

Click here to submit a claim.

The Automotive Investment Scheme (AIS) is an incentive designed to grow and develop the automotive sector through investment in new and/ or replacement models and components that will increase plant production volumes, sustain employment and/ or strengthen the automotive value chain.

The AIS provides for a non-taxable cash grant of twenty percent (20%) of the value of qualifying investment in productive assets and twenty five percent (25%) of the value of qualifying investment in productive assets by component manufactures and tooling companies as approved by the dtic.

Click here to submit an application. 

Click here to submit a claim.

The Capital Projects Feasibility Programme (CPFP) is a cost-sharing grant that contributes to the cost of feasibility studies likely to lead to projects that will increase local exports and stimulate the market for South African capital goods and services. 

The grant is capped at R8 million to a maximum of 50% of the total costs of the feasibility study for projects outside Africa and 55% of the total costs of the feasibility study for projects in Africa.

Click here to submit an application form. 

Click here to submit a claim. 

The Agro-Processing Support Scheme (APSS) aims to stimulate investment by the South African agro-processing / beneficiation (agri-business) enterprises. The investment should demonstrate that it will achieve some of the following: Increased capacity, employment creation, modernised machinery and equipment, competitiveness and productivity improvement and broadening participation.

Click here to submit an application.

Click here to submit a claim.  

The Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme (ADEP) is an incentive programme available to South African registered entities engaged in primary, secondary and ancillary aquaculture activities in both marine and freshwater classified under SIC 132 (fish hatcheries and fish farms) and SIC 301 and 3012 (production, processing and preserving of aquaculture fish). The grant is provided directly to approved applications for new, upgrading or expansion projects.

The programme offers a reimbursable cost-sharing grant of up to a maximum of R20 million qualifying costs in machinery and equipment; bulk infrastructure; owned land and/or buildings; leasehold improvements; and competitiveness improvement activities as outlined in section 8 of the ADEP guidelines.

Click here to submit the application form. 

Click here to submit a claim.

The Technology Development Fund supports the development of technologies from proof concept leading to product prototype and ultimately demonstration thereof in an operating environment.

Click here to register and apply. 

The main purpose of the Fund is to enable innovators to evaluate, demonstrate and advance the value proposition and commercial potential of their research outputs. The Fund therefore contributes towards de-risking research outputs in order to increase the pipeline for Technology Innovation Agency and other funders. The fund assists High Education Institutions and Small Micro Medium Enterprises in bridging financing requirements to translate research outputs into fundable ideas for commercialisation.

Application

A close call issued by Offices of Technology Transfer (OTT) or Regional Development Agencies (RDA). 

The Pre-Commercialisation Support Fund assists existing or potential individual entrepreneurs and Small Micro Medium Enterprises to obtain funding to support pre-commercialisation activities including the development of production/service capacity to levels that will support operational sustainability. This further include, market testing and validation of the technology in the potential customer environment, as well as bridging finance in preparation for commercialisation.

Click here to register and submit application. 

Nedbank Business Ignite with 702 and CapeTalk invite entrepreneurs to enter their business to stand a chance to win one of 10 business packages worth over R200 000, including an incubation package with a business growth expert, promotional airtime on 702 and/or CapeTalk, and a cash injection into your business.

Click here to apply.

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and its agency Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) is inviting SMMEs, and Cooperatives in the following sectors to apply for technology assistance up to R1 200 000.00; 

• Manufacturing
• Automotive services
• Digital Technology (The Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Simulation, Additive Manufacturing, System Integration, Cloud Computing, Autonomous Systems, Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics)
• Personal care (hair and beauty salons)
• Creative Industries
• Bulk Paper Industries
• Industrial Garden Services
• Household Services, laundry and dry-cleaning

Click here to download the business case form. 

Click here to submit your application.

The GAP Innovation Competition is looking for innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs that are working on novel technologies that will improve the efficiency of government service delivery, increase the competitiveness of the local economy and enhance the quality of life of ordinary citizens.

Categories; 

• GAP Green -  Apply 
• GAP Biosciences - Apply 
• GAP ICT - Apply 
• GAP Medical - Apply 
• Gauteng Accelerator Township Economy - Apply 

Register for the for the Business Basics Workshop which will entail vital orientation and preparation for your GAP application.

The Township and Rural Empowerment Programmes (TREP) supports informal, micro and small enterprises and cooperatives in the rural and township economies. TREP provides blended finance and business development support to various sectors with a view of promoting their participation in the mainstream economy.

The Scheme is aimed at supporting small enterprises to:

• participate in the rebuilding and restructuring of the economy in townships and rural areas;

• necessitated by the emergence of the new world order;

• improve the quality and competitiveness of small enterprises for both domestic supply and export market; and

• seize opportunities in various sectors availed by the Covid-19 pandemic through the value chains and beyond.

Click here to submit application.

The Township Economy Partnership Fund (TEPF) is a partnership between the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The fund supports SMMEs in the township economy of Gauteng in sectors that include (but not limited to) Manufacturing, The Taxi Economy, ICT, Backyard Real Estate upgrading and retail.

The TEP is a fund aimed at supporting vulnerable township small businesses that are unable to access funding from private funding institutions, government, and other business support programmes.

Click here to apply 

CSIR/TIA/DSI Industrial Biocatalysis HUB (IBH) is calling for Expression of Interest (EoI) from SMMEs entering the biocatalysis sector as well as established companies to grow and expand biomanufacturing capacity to meet market demands.

Biocatalysis entails the use of enzymes and microorganisms to develop processes to produce products such as industrial biologics, biopharmaceuticals and bio-veterinary compounds, flavours and fragrances, food additives and extraction of natural compounds from plants which can be used in the formulation of dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, food and feed products and cosmetics.

Purchasing of equipment for enterprises or direct monetary support of enterprises is not provided for in this call.

Click here to download the EoI application form. 

Click here to submit your EoI 

The Google Hustle Academy is offering a free week-long bootcamp to entrepreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. 

This bootcamp, delivered online by subject matter experts, is designed to help small businesses grow by increasing revenue, positioning for investment, and building a sustainable business for the future.

Click here to apply. 

This is a pilot call aiming to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, through the implementation of results from ongoing or recently finalised research and innovation projects to advance the knowledge-based achievement of the SDGs, from local to regional scale. Projects will be funded through international consortia where researchers together with implementation partners and stakeholders collectively and collaboratively aim to improve research outcomes for impact. The research and outcomes of the projects funded should lead to impact on society and improve the livelihoods of people on the ground.

Available budget: €300,000 (approximately 5.1 million Rand)

Click here to submit concept note. 

ClimateLaunchPad (CLP) is a global green business ideas competition that supports promising cleantech entrepreneurs by providing them with training, coaching, and networking opportunities.

It welcomes innovation and solutions that tackle the challenges of climate change.

Grindstone is looking for high-growth innovative scale-ups to join their accelerator programme. 
 

Click here to submit application.