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Are you a female under the age of 25 looking at problems facing the world around you and eager to be part of the solution? Would you like to develop the skills needed to not only solve those problems but also turn your solution into a business? Do you want to make a difference and contribute to achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Then, the InnovateHER Youth Innovation Competition is made for you.

The participant can enter the competition by identifying a problem that they believe can be addressed with a digital solution (mobile phone app).InnovateHER is looking for creative and innovative ideas that address one or more of the SDGs, ranging from poverty reduction and climate action to gender equality and quality education.

All participants will receive access to the online training platform, peer support group and interactive sessions for a period of 12 weeks to develop their idea.

Training topics will include:

• Design Thinking for Product Development
• Project Management
• Conceptualising your Business with the Business Model Canvas
• Mobile Application Development
• Financial Fundamentals
• Mental Health & Wellness Support on relevant topics

All participants who complete the programme will be invited to a hackathon event to implement the Mobile App Development content & a graduation function where the finalists will compete live to determine the ultimate winners. If your idea is viable, feasible, unique & catches the eye of one of our industry judges, you can potentially secure funding to bring your idea to life. The overall winners will win a once-in-a-lifetime technology tour abroad, with Prof Leenta as your guide. 

Click here to apply. 

WIPO-South Africa will host the summer school on Intellectual Property and Transfer of Technology and invite young professionals and students to participate.  The summer school programme provides an opportunity for senior students and young professionals to acquire a more profound knowledge of each intellectual property (IP) domain and of the role and functions of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The programme consists of lectures, case studies, simulation exercises and group discussions on selected IP topics, with an orientation towards the interface between IP and other disciplines. A certificate of participation is awarded to participants who successfully complete the programme requirements.

Click here to register for the programme. 

The national funding bodies from Kenya, Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Estonia, France, Finland, South Africa and Spain have allocated funding for organisations collaborating on international R&D projects within all technology fields. The participating countries especially hope to receive applications in the fields of sustainability or health.

Your project consortium must include at least one enterprise from one of the Eureka member countries participating in the call and a research organisation/university combined with a company from Kenya.

Click here to register and apply

Eurostars is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners (large companies, universities, research organisations and other types of organisations) by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects. By participating, organisations can access public funding for international collaborative R&D projects in all fields.
 

To have a successful Eurostars application you must:

• Define your project idea
• Collaborate internationally, sharing expertise
• Develop products, processes or services that can be easily commercialised

Click here to submit your your R&D and innovation project application. 

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is calling for applications from grassroots innovators looking for funding, technical assistance and support for developing a new product or process up to prototype and proof of concept stage. A grassroots innovator is defined as “an individual who undertakes innovations to solve local challenges using local resources and capabilities through working outside the realm of formal innovation institution”.

Support Package on Offer

• Intellectual Property Registration
• Industry compliance and certification
• Product and technical development expertise, design prototyping infrastructure & hard/software materials
• Production of a prototype
• Business development training and support
• Networking, mentorship and market access activities

How To Apply; 

Prepare and upload as part of application:

• A three-minute video (name and surname of the innovator, the overview of the innovation, show prototype if it exists, and what the funding will be used for)
• Pitch deck
• Proof of residence

Click here to apply - Application form CC2_GIP_Zululand

Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) is offering committed young entrepreneurs the opportunity to access the skills and capital they need to reach their full potential. Through the Business in a Box Programme, entrepreneurs can own a business, backed by an international powerhouse.

Business in a Box is a plug-and-play solution for informal tyre businesses often trading from makeshift facilities, to be transformed into Dunlop-branded fitment centres. The fully fitted 12m container, gives entrepreneurs everything they need to run their own tyre business and offer much-needed services in their local area.

Services On Offer:
With Dunlop’s Business in a Box, these fitment centres can offer these and other high-quality products and services to their community:

1. Tyre fitment
2. Tyre repairs
3. Wheel balancing
4. Wheel rotation
5. Battery sales, testing and recharging
6. Motor spares

Click here to apply. 

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is calling for applications from grassroots innovators looking for funding, technical assistance and support for developing a new product or process up to prototype and proof of concept stage. 

Fundable Activities

• Development and production of fully functional prototypes of product innovations responding to social challenges
• Skills training and business development incubation and mentorship
• Specialised equipment that is within the budget constraints and required to enable innovation activities
• Introduction of a proof of concept where a viable business case can be demonstrated
• Registration of new enterprises or attaining compliance of already registered enterprises
• Registration of intellectual property rights, copyright and trademark protection and licensing
• Personal and travelling stipend to the innovators in support of the development of their innovation

Click here to submit an application. 

Installation, Repair, and Maintenance (IRM) Initiative is calling for SMEs to host young people for workplace learning in installation, repair, and maintenance work. 

Benefits for SMEs 

• Work ready canditates
• No additional cost to the SME, Gauteng government and NBI will cover stipends for the trainees 
• Workshop mentorship training to be provided
• Access to enterprise development support in the IRM Mamelodi hub (launching 2023)

Click here to apply.

The Creative Economy E-Learning initiative for aspiring and early-stage young African entrepreneurs is centered on entrepreneurship and provides the continent's future leaders with a selection of free online courses to aid them in their professional endeavors.

Participants will receive a certificate as proof of their accomplishment after finishing the program. With the certificate, you will be able to apply for ongoing support via coaching, incubation, mentoring, and acceleration through our larger work in participating nations.

Click here to signup. 

The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive is available to South African black-owned qualifying productions. It aims to nurture and capacitate emerging black filmmakers to take up big productions and contribute towards employment opportunities

The South African Film and Television Production Incentive Programme is aimed at strengthening and promoting the country’s film and television industry as well as contributing to the creation of employment opportunities in South Africa.

The objective of the South African Film and Television Co-Production Incentive, a subprogramme of the South African Film and Television Production Incentive Programme, is to support official co-productions and contribute toward employment opportunities in South Africa.

The South African Film and Television Co-Production Incentive is available to qualifying official treaty co-productions as follows:

The Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) is a programme of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti’s) and forms a core part of the implementation of the Customised Sector Programme (CSP’s) for the Clothing, Textiles, Footwear, Leather & Leather Goods Industries. The CTCP’s main objective is to assist industry in upgrading equipment, process, products and people, re-positioning South Africa to compete effectively against other low cost producing countries.

The Khoebo Innovation Promotion Programme is a Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) programme, managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the objective of the Khoebo Innovation Promotion Programme (KIPP) is to enable early-stage innovative SME’s to penetrate the market with their locally developed innovations resulting in a more competitive economic environment and thereby facilitating economic growth in the South African Economy.

Click here to email a comprehensive business plan taking into account a 6 to 8-week review and approval period whereby the following criteria will be considered.

The Support Programme for Industrial Innovation (SPII) is designed to promote technology development in South Africa’s industry, through the provision of financial assistance for the development of innovative products and/or processes. SPII is focused specifically on the development phase, which begins at the conclusion of basic research and ends at the point when a pre-production prototype has been produced.

Schemes

• Product Process Development Scheme – Provides financial assistance to small, very small and micro-enterprises and individuals in the form of a non-repayable grant. A percentage of ‘qualifying’ costs incurred in the pre-competitive development activities associated with a specific Maximum of R2m grant.
• Matching Scheme – A percentage of ‘qualifying’ costs incurred in the development activities of a specified development project. Maximum of R5m grant.
• The Partnership Scheme – The levy-based grant is based on a percentage of sales over a fixed number of years. The levy percentage and repayment period are established at the time of the grant. R 10 million (minimum contribution).

The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) is intended to leverage collaborative partnerships between government and industry (working with academia), for applied research and development projects in science, engineering and technology on a cost-sharing basis, to produce highly skilled human resources and technology solutions, for an improved industry and enterprise competitiveness. 

The objective of the program is to develop new technologies for industry application and subsequent industrialisation and commercialisation, through applied research and development. 

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.

Benefits; 

• The scheme offers a 20% to a 30% cost-sharing grant to a maximum of R20 million over a two-year investment period, with a last claim to be submitted within six months after the final approved milestone.
• The maximum approved grant may be utilised on a combination of investment costs provided the applicant illustrates a sound business case for the proposed investment activities.
• An applicant must submit a completed application form and business plan with detailed agro-processing/beneficiation activities, budget plans and projected income statement and balance sheet, for a period of at least three years for the project. The project/business must exhibit economic merit in terms of sustainability.

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) initiated the Strategic Partnership Programme (SPP) to develop and support programmes/interventions aimed at enhancing the manufacturing and services supply capacity of suppliers with linkages to strategic partner’s supply chains, industries or sectors.

Objectives; 

• The objective of SPP to encourage large private sector enterprises in partnership with Government to support, nurture and develop SMEs within the partner’s supply chain or sector to be manufacturers of goods and suppliers of services in a sustainable manner.
• The intention of the programme is to support Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy through encouraging businesses to strengthen the element of Enter and Supplier Development (ESD) of the Codes of Good Practice.
• SPP will be available on a cost-sharing basis between Government and the strategic partner(s). It is available for infrastructure and business development services necessary to mentor and grow enterprises.

The Technology Transfer Fund seeks to support SMMEs and Cooperatives to participate in the mainstream economy. The Fund aims to achieve return on investment by creating growth in revenue and sustainable jobs, which drive the national economy. The amount of funding annually available is limited, and grants are thus awarded judiciously according to the business case for potential return on investment.

The Inyamazane Funding Scheme offers South African military veterans an opportunity to enter the mainstream economy by accessing credit facilities ranging from R50 000 to a maximum of R15-million to build qualifying entrepreneurial enterprises.

The fund was established to address high levels of poverty and unemployment among the veteran community, and to assist them in accessing fundamental social and economic rights.

The purpose of the Small Enterprise Manufacturing Support Programme is:

• To build a manufacturing sector for an improved industrial base (productive economy) through a focused import replacement programme; and
• Build the industrial base for both the domestic market and external market (in particular, the African Union market).

The programme aims to contribute to South Africa’s localization strategy by supporting manufacturing enterprises to:

• Increase the relative contribution of manufacturing to GDP;
• Grow manufacturing employment targets;
• Change the structure of manufacturing to high tech manufacturing;
• Increase labour productivity’ and
• Drive import replacement through locally manufactured goods increase exports in manufactured goods.

Green Buildings Finance Programme provides up to 100% property finance ranging from R500 000 to R50 million to established entrepreneurs with a viable business who want to invest in green buildings and achieve green building certification. We finance the purchase, construction, and/or retrofit of buildings if their designs are certified under an eligible green building certification.

Click here to apply. 

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.

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 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. 

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 

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.