Deadline: 24-Jun-21
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) are calling for the submission of funding applications for the extension of the Living Labs Pilot Programme.
This is a call for “Virtual Living Labs” in marginalised communities of South Africa:
- Establishing a new Virtual Living Lab/ Replicating a successful Living Lab (for funding up to a maximum of R1m); and
- Expansion of an existing Living Lab through launching a “Virtual Innovation Support Programme” to support innovators with potential ideas to enhance the local economy while addressing challenges facing their communities and/or focused on supporting virtual co-creation with local stakeholders (i.e. local innovators, community users, researchers, etc.) particularly the youth (for funding of up to R1m).
Funding Information
- Grant funding up to a maximum of R1m for developing a Virtual Living Lab/Replicating a successful virtual Living Lab and up to R1m for expansion of an existing Living Lab through launching a virtual innovation support programme;
- TIA will retain the first right of refusal to fund any innovation outputs of the project; and
- The duration of the project shall be for a maximum period of 18 months. Any period in excess of this should be well motivated, clearly indicating the deliverables associated with the extended period and reasons why it is not feasible to achieve the project within the given period.
Fundable Activities
The following is a list of fundable activities:
- The development and commercialisation of ICT and other context-relevant innovations that respond to community challenges and contribution to the local economy;
- Digital capacity building activities for innovators (particularly youth) and innovative enterprises, through product development, online training and mentoring (incubation) and participation in online industry events;
- Launching or expanding a virtual innovation support programme within an existing Living Lab;
- Setting up of new Virtual Living Labs, where high levels of internal capacity and/or partnerships to ensure success can be demonstrated;
- Replicating an existing Virtual Living Lab with proven track record, or parts thereof, in another area/context where high levels of internal capacity and/or partnerships to ensure success can be demonstrated; and
- Development of a virtual platform/s.
Eligibility Criteria
- Existing Virtual Living Labs that can demonstrate the ability to introduce or expand an innovation support programme/ activities through innovative creative and digital content;
- Existing Virtual Living Labs with demonstrable track record of running virtual innovation support programmes and developing online training content that can be accessed by other Living Labs remotely; and
- Individual entrepreneurs who have demonstrable track record of working in communities (particularly with youth) and have demonstrable track record of running youth support programmes and demonstrate potential to transfer the knowledge to running a Virtual Living Lab.
For more information, visit https://www.tia.org.za/blog/2021/05/20/virtual-living-labs/