Deadline: 28-Feb-23
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 for community-based rural Living Labs in marginalised communities of the following provinces in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Funding Information
- Grant funding up to a maximum of R2,5m for developing a new Living Lab/Replicating a successful Living Lab and up to R1,5m for expansion of an existing Living Lab through launching an innovation support programme.
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.
- Capacity building activities for innovators (particularly youth) and innovative enterprises, through product development, training, and mentoring (incubation).
- Launching or expanding an innovation support programme within an existing Living Lab.
- Setting up of new Living Labs, where high levels of internal capacity and/or partnerships to ensure success can be demonstrated; and
- Replicating an existing 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.
Eligibility Criteria
- The fund is targeting existing Living Labs that can demonstrate the ability to introduce or expand an innovation support programme/ activities.
- Individual entrepreneurs who have demonstrable track record of working in communities and have identified basic facilities where they can undertake innovation support activities; and
- An organisation or individual entrepreneur who has an experienced partner (to mentor in the process of establishing the Living Lab) and have identified basic facilities where they can undertake innovation support activities.
- Living Labs currently funded through the Living Labs Pilot Programme are not eligible to apply. In all the above-stated cases, these must demonstrate competence in the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions and other context-relevant technology solutions that cancreate local economic opportunities.
- Applications will only be accepted from organizations/entities with offices/ operations in the aforementioned provinces.
Assessment Criteria
- Minimum criteria to be considered:
- Innovation Support Programme has been clearly articulated.
- Targeted beneficiaries (geographic location, marginalised communities, youth innovative enterprises).
- Local community need has been identified and clearly articulated.
- Compliance with the specifications of this call for proposals; and
- A broad sustainability plan for the living lab has been articulated.
- Other criteria to be considered:
- The proposal meets the requirements for funding as per fundable activities.
- The proposal represents an active collaboration with the community and at least two other actors – local innovator/s, industry, and public sector/government/ research institution.
- The project timeline is feasible given the scope of the project.
- A clear, relevant community or local economy need in marginalized community has been articulated.
- The outcomes will contribute to an innovation pipeline with innovation outputs that, address community needs.
- The likelihood that the planned outcomes and outputs could qualify for follow on funding from TIA and other funders.
- The amount of funding that could potentially be attracted/leveraged from other partners beyond TIA funding.
- The team capabilities; and
- The governance, financial and operational systems are in place to manage and account for the grant.
For more information, visit Living Labs Pilot Programme.