Deadline: 20-Oct-20
In order to contribute to improving the quality of the air that they all breath, UNDP Serbia, in cooperation with the UNICEF and WHO, is soliciting legal entities to propose innovative ways of producing or procuring innovative products, technological solutions and new value chains.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is dedicated to promoting innovation in resolving complex developmental issues. Innovation challenges are prized challenges organized with a view to soliciting innovative ideas and solutions to address development challenges, which cannot be achieved through traditional solicitation processes. The selected projects on innovation challenge calls could be offered awards, technical assistance and equity co-financing for developing of the bankable idea and its offer to commercial or development banks.
The present Innovation Challenge Call is geared towards tackling air pollution in Serbia, in the broadest sense, where innovators will have an opportunity to propose new ideas for urban areas in Serbia (though not necessarily completely new worldwide).
Categories
- Individual heating/combustion units (in households, public buildings) improved in terms of reduced emissions of pollutants, improved efficiency of energy-use, multifunctionality, etc.;
- Devices, software or methods for air quality monitoring, data processing and publication of results, preferably in open data format.
- Exceptionally novel and effective Air purifiers (individual or collective air purifying).
- Other equipment or advanced processes that contribute to the reduction of air pollution from the following sectors: transport, agriculture, industry, utilities (communal hygiene of public spaces, waste management, etc).
- Solutions focused on mitigating/reducing air pollution impact on children. This category also accepts individual proposals, and is particularly intended for young people, university students, and private sector.
About Challenge
In order to contribute to improving the quality of the air that we all breath, UNDP Serbia is soliciting legal entities to propose innovative ways of producing or procuring innovative products, technological solutions and new value chains related to the following categories:
1. Individual heating/combustion units (in households, public buildings) improved in terms of reduced emissions of pollutants, improved efficiency of energy-use, multifunctionality, etc.;
2. Devices, software or methods for air quality monitoring, data processing and publication of results, preferably in open data format.
3. Exceptionally novel and effective Air purifiers (individual or collective air purifying).
4. Other equipment or advanced processes that contribute to the reduction of air pollution from the following sectors: transport, agriculture, industry, utilities (communal hygiene of public spaces, waste management, etc).
5. Solutions focused on mitigating/reducing air pollution impact on children. This category also accepts individual proposals, and is particularly intended for young people, university students, and private sector. Solutions proposed under this category (no. 5) need to be aligned with Principles for Digital Development
Benefits
- Innovation prize award, for especially well thought-through and mature project idea;
- Technical assistance to develop a good idea and find financing on financial or capital market;
- Equity co-financing, for exceptionally well designed and prepared ideas, which require minimum engagement from UNDP and which are free from financial, environment or regulatory risk;
- In addition to this, UNDP, supported by WHO, and UNICEF, will provide guidance and assistance for further development of the selected proposals, as appropriate, and promote the project outputs as examples of good practices.
What is considered an innovation?
- New technologies or new application of existing technological solutions (First-of its kind in Serbia);
- New/improved business models or processes in Serbia;
- New value chain in Serbia;
- Finding sustainable solutions which leads to long-lasting change;
- Solving social issues (gender equality, engagement or impact on marginalized groups, unemployment etc).
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are:
- legal entities including but not limiting to:
- Public companies;
- Commercial organization/businesses (Ltd, entrepreneurs);
- Research institutions;
- Exceptionally competent or relevant civil society organizations.
- applications will be accepted also from individuals, besides all above mentioned categories of applicants.
- legal entities including but not limiting to:
- The applicant has to be registered in Serbia, according to national legislation, according to national legislation.
- Applicants can apply independently or in Consortia. If applying in Consortia, the Lead Applicant has to be clearly identified and has to be registered in Serbia, to be authorized to represent the Consortia and serve as the main point of contact throughout the application process. The lead applicant will also be the main recipient of the funds vis-à-vis project resources.
- There is no limitation as to how many proposals one legal entity can apply with or in how many consortia it can participate.
Steps for Application
- Step 1: Call for project proposals, submitting applications
- Apply
- Applicants are requested to fill out the online application form. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to provide correct and updated information.
- Step 2: Evaluation and selection of projects for implementation phase
- How will the selection of ideas be done?
- A team of qualified Selection Panel members shall review and evaluate the proposed projects. Based on the evaluation criteria, the Selection Panel will assess projects for their further development and inform the unsuccessful ones, with instruction on how to improve their application.
- Step 3: Publication and presentation of selected ideas
- UNDP will publish selected ideas in appropriate public format on IT platform, media, social media and online or in-person events.
- The selected applicants shall be required to prepare for appropriate presentations and participate in such promotional activities including through written and verbal contributions.
- In case of failure to do so, the selected idea shall not be supported further.
- Step 4: Interaction and negotiation on details project idea
- The selected and presented idea, which has received interest of support by the sources of funding shall work on the creation of full project document, which shall include indicators of success and benchmarks which will trigger payments towards the full implementation of the project idea.
- Step 5: Innovation Awards or signing Performance-based Payments Agreement
- For the selected projects which are considered as ready for actual implementation, UNDP could provide appropriate co-financing, through the Innovation Challenge Prize or Performance – Based Payments Agreements mechanism.
- The Applicants are expected to participate either through financial or in-kind contributions (in kind contributions shall be closely scrutinized). UNDP will assess the value of financing per project depending on the envisaged impact.
- The number of projects selected as finalists for the implementation and value of financing can be increased based on the additional funding resources.
- STEP 6: Implementation
- UNDP shall agree with the owner of each selected Project the indicators which will demonstrate progress before signing of the Performance-based Payments Agreement.
- Fulfilling the performance indicators shall trigger payments from UNDP.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3nerOAK