Applications Open: Castor Oil Living Labs Programme (South Africa)

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), is inviting eligible South African organisations to apply for funding to establish a Castor Oil Living Lab in the Frances Baard District Municipality, Northern Cape Province. The programme aims to stimulate innovation, local economic development, enterprise growth, and community participation within the castor oil value chain.

About the Castor Oil Living Lab Programme

The Castor Oil Living Lab is part of the DSTI Living Labs Programme, implemented through the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

Living Labs are community-based innovation ecosystems where government, industry, academia, and local communities work together to develop, test, and scale practical solutions to local challenges. The proposed Living Lab will focus on strengthening the castor oil value chain through technology innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development, and local collaboration.

The initiative supports South Africa’s broader goals of rural industrialisation, innovation-led economic development, and sustainable local value creation.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Promote innovation-led local economic development.
• Strengthen the castor oil value chain.
• Support technology development and technology transfer.
• Encourage enterprise creation and business growth.
• Improve community-based innovation systems.
• Develop local skills and technical capacity.
• Promote rural industrialisation.
• Increase participation of emerging farmers.
• Support youth employment and entrepreneurship.
• Empower women and persons with disabilities.
• Foster collaboration through the quadruple helix innovation model.
• Enhance local value addition and beneficiation.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Local economic development
• Innovation ecosystems
• Technology development
• Technology transfer
• Enterprise development
• Community-driven innovation
• Rural industrialisation
• Castor oil value chain development
• Skills development
• Innovation support programmes
• Product development
• Incubation and mentoring
• Market access
• Youth empowerment
• Women’s empowerment
• Inclusion of persons with disabilities
• Emerging farmer participation
• Collaborative innovation
• Local value chain beneficiation

What Is a Living Lab?

A Living Lab is an innovation platform where multiple stakeholders collaborate to develop and test real-world solutions.

The programme follows the Quadruple Helix Model, bringing together:

• Government
• Industry
• Academic and research institutions
• Local communities

This collaborative approach helps ensure that innovation addresses local needs while supporting sustainable economic development.

Funding Information

• Maximum grant amount: R4,717,440
• Project duration: Up to 24 months
• Funding supports the establishment and operation of a Castor Oil Living Lab.

Eligible Use of Funds

Grant funding may be used for:

• Repurposing an existing facility into a Living Lab
• Innovation infrastructure
• Innovation support programmes
• Capacity-building activities
• Skills development
• Mentoring
• Incubation programmes
• Product development
• Beneficiary stipends
• Technology transfer
• Market access initiatives
• Activation programmes
• Collaborative solution development
• Implementation of the quadruple helix model

Ineligible Expenses

Funding cannot be used for:

• General operational expenses unrelated to innovation
• Construction of new buildings
• Student bursaries
• Academic research projects
• General office equipment
• Primary agricultural production that is not linked to innovation activities

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be a legally registered entity in South Africa.
• Comply with all statutory and legal requirements.
• Have experience in community-based innovation support.
• Have experience in castor oil beneficiation or process innovation.
• Demonstrate the capacity to work with multiple stakeholders.
• Maintain an operational presence in the Northern Cape Province.
• Provide an existing facility located in a rural or township community suitable for Living Lab activities.

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects are expected to:

• Establish a fully operational Castor Oil Living Lab.
• Increase innovation within the castor oil value chain.
• Support enterprise creation and business development.
• Improve technology adoption.
• Strengthen local innovation ecosystems.
• Enhance skills development.
• Promote collaboration among government, industry, academia, and communities.
• Expand participation by youth, women, persons with disabilities, and emerging farmers.

Why This Programme Matters

The programme helps transform local economies by connecting innovation with community development.

It aims to:

• Create sustainable employment opportunities.
• Promote rural industrialisation.
• Support inclusive economic growth.
• Improve local technology adoption.
• Strengthen agricultural value chains.
• Increase opportunities for entrepreneurs.
• Encourage community-driven innovation.
• Build resilient local innovation ecosystems.

How the Living Lab Programme Works

Successful applicants will:

1. Establish or repurpose an existing facility into a Living Lab.
2. Deliver innovation support services.
3. Implement enterprise development activities.
4. Provide mentoring and incubation programmes.
5. Facilitate stakeholder collaboration.
6. Support product development and commercialization.
7. Deliver skills development and capacity-building programmes.
8. Promote innovation across the castor oil value chain.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm legal eligibility in South Africa.
2. Ensure an operational presence in the Northern Cape Province.
3. Identify a suitable existing facility for the Living Lab.
4. Develop a project proposal aligned with programme objectives.
5. Demonstrate experience in innovation support and castor oil beneficiation.
6. Present a stakeholder engagement strategy.
7. Submit the completed application before the official deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Legal compliance
• Eligibility
• Organisational capacity
• Implementation capability
• Experience in innovation support
• Experience in the castor oil value chain
• Stakeholder engagement
• Inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities
• Alignment with Living Labs Programme objectives
• Potential community impact

Application Tips

• Clearly explain how the Living Lab will strengthen the local castor oil value chain.
• Demonstrate strong community engagement.
• Include realistic implementation timelines.
• Show partnerships with government, academia, and industry.
• Highlight experience in enterprise development and innovation.
• Include measurable outcomes and sustainability plans.
• Demonstrate inclusive participation strategies for youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing construction of new facilities instead of repurposing existing ones.
• Including ineligible operational expenses.
• Failing to demonstrate innovation expertise.
• Providing weak stakeholder engagement plans.
• Omitting inclusion strategies for priority beneficiary groups.
• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Failing to align activities with Living Labs Programme objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the DSTI Castor Oil Living Lab Programme?

Legally registered South African organisations with relevant experience in community innovation, castor oil beneficiation, and stakeholder collaboration.

How much funding is available?

Successful projects may receive grants of up to R4,717,440.

How long can projects run?

Projects may be implemented over a maximum period of 24 months.

What is the main purpose of the Living Lab?

The Living Lab aims to strengthen innovation, enterprise development, technology transfer, and local economic development within the castor oil value chain.

Can funding be used to construct new buildings?

No. Funding supports the repurposing of existing facilities but does not cover new building construction.

Who are the priority beneficiaries?

The programme prioritises youth, women, persons with disabilities, emerging farmers, and local communities in the Northern Cape Province.

How will applications be evaluated?

Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, legal compliance, implementation capacity, innovation experience, stakeholder engagement, beneficiary inclusion, and alignment with the Living Labs Programme.

Conclusion

The DSTI Castor Oil Living Lab Funding Programme provides a significant opportunity for South African organisations to establish innovation hubs that promote local economic development, technology transfer, enterprise growth, and inclusive participation in the castor oil value chain. With funding of up to R4,717,440 over 24 months, the programme supports collaborative, community-driven innovation that strengthens rural industrialisation, empowers underserved groups, and creates sustainable economic opportunities in the Northern Cape Province.