Call for Applications: Publicly Funded Intellectual Property or Technologies (South Africa)

The Innovation Fund is established by the Department of Science and Innovation to enhance SA’s capacity to commercialise technological innovations. The objectives of the Innovation Fund are to serve as an opportunity to de-risk investments through technology development and demonstration and to serve as a catalyst for co-investment and follow-on investment from industry and private sector sources (commercial funding). TIA is one of the implementing partners alongside the other entities involved in investment and corporation alike. This public–private funding instrument aims to facilitate and accelerate commercialisation.

The call is targeted all TIA focus areas (Health, Agri-biotech, Indigenous Knowledge systems, Industrial biotech, Natural resources, Energy, ICT, Advanced Manufacturing). However, priority will be given to applications in alignment with nine priorities of the Decadal Plan (including, circular economy, education for the future, sustainable energy, future of society, health innovation, high-tech industrialization, information, and communication technologies (ICTs) and smart systems, nutrition security, water security.

Eligibility Criteria

• Publicly funded Intellectual Property and or technologies that have reached TRL 6 or above with validated technologies and require follow on funding for further technology development towards commercialization.
• Previously TIA Funded or supported projects, applicants should have completed their activities with a signed closeout report submitted by the last date of the closing of this call.
• For Seed Funded projects, applications should be made by the TIA contracted Seed Fund implementations partners.

What type of funding instrument is on offer?

• (Innovation Fund – Conditional grants, other instruments may be considered on case-by-case basis)

Evaluation Criteria

• This Innovation Fund call seeks to fund late-stage technology development projects with the following key attributes:
  • Validated proof of concept and/or preferably near market that can be supported by letters of intent support and verifiable market fit. These will be verified during commercialisation due diligence with successful applicants.
  • Potential for private sector co-investment that can be quantified as actual income not in-kind.
  • Have potential for greater economic and social impact through e.g., local manufacture, job creation (specify quantity expected) and responsive to transformation agenda of youth, woman, and people with disabilities.
  • Potential for commercialisation by the end of the Innovation Fund phase (new sales, revenue, exports, etc.
  • For HEI or Science Council, the project should have a commercial partnering SME/start-up/large firm, or their spin-offs company that is registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
• The project/technology must be de-risked at the end of IF support with products ready for market uptake. The aim is to deliver a product ready for commercialization (lead time to market) within a maximum of 12- 18 months in the following fundable activities that may include in the full cost and all-inclusive budgeting on the application:
  • Technology/product optimisations
  • Techno-economic evaluation studies
  • Technology piloting
  • Production of samples for market testing
  • Certification or regulatory registration.

Notes

• Preference will be given to applications with (Technical validation reports, protected IP/Freedom to operate and proof of IP ownership).
• Preference will be given to previously disadvantaged Individuals (youth, women and people living with disabilities), historically disadvantaged entities and those from previously marginalised provinces.
• Turnaround time for decision making will be subjected to requested funding quantum, completeness of information provided and the responsiveness of applicant during the Commercial Due Diligence.

For more information, visit Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).