Deadline: 2 February 2018
BioInnovate Africa Programme has announced a US$ 3.5 million grant funding over three years (2018–2020) to support scientists, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs in eastern Africa to link innovative biobased research ideas and technologies to business and the market.
The Bioresources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (BioInnovate Africa) Programme is a regional initiative established in 2010 with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It assists countries in eastern Africa to benefit from the revolutionary advances in biosciences, by converting biobased research ideas and technologies into innovations that improve people’s lives. The Programme is based at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya, and operates in six eastern African countries, namely Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Thematic Areas
- Value addition to agroproduce
- Agro/biowaste conversion
- Bioinnovation policy analysis and development
Funding Information
- Total funding of approximately US$ 3.5 million is made available for this Call for a period of three years.
- The funds are allocated in three categories of grants as follows:
- Category 1 Grants: To develop and pilot innovative and economically viable biobased technologies or products (US$ 2.25 million)
- Category 2 Grants: For biobased technology business incubation (US$ 750,000)
- Category 3 Grants: For developing a regional innovation-driven bioeconomy policy and strategy (US$ 500,000)
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants are eligible to apply for these grants if applicants are a scientists, researchers, innovators or entrepreneurs resident in any of the six eastern African countries, namely Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
- Applicants are individuals who must be formally affiliated with a university, public research organisation or private firm based in the region, e.g. as a full-time employee, and should not be current recipients of a BioInnovate Africa project grant.
- For this Call, private firms include legally registered smallholder farmer or community organisations or groups. For purposes of promoting local and regional ownership, scientists and researchers from international research centres and organisations in the region may apply only as co-applicants and NOT as lead applicants.
- Scientists and researchers from other parts of Africa and other organisations around the world may also participate in this Call, but only as collaborators in a project.
- Collaborators should not be listed as co-applicants, i.e. as a part of the core team applying for the grant. They should only be described in the proposal, and their role and contribution to the project should be clear.
- Postgraduate students who are already registered in local universities in the region for master’s degree or PhD (and have sources of funds to support their tuition fees) can be attached to the project team, but not as coapplicants.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must apply online via given website.
Eligible Countries: Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
For more information, please visit BioInnovate Africa Programme.