Deadline: 25-Jul-25
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) is pleased to announce an open call for proposals for the Circular Economy Demonstration Projects commencing in January 2026.
The South African Circular Economy Demonstration Fund, is an initiative of the Government of South Africa, implemented through Circular Innovation South Africa (CISA). The Fund is aimed at demonstrating proven circular economy interventions that have not yet achieved scale or impact in South Africa.
The intention of the fund is to partner private sector organisations (e.g., business, industry) with research institutions, to support the private sector organization in de-risking, scaling, localising, or demonstrating a circular intervention (i.e., a circular technological, social or business innovation).
The Demonstration Fund aims to incentivise greater collaboration between the private sector, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) or civil society organisations (CSOs) and Universities and Science Councils, in the adoption and scaling of circular economy interventions in South Africa, and ensuring that a circular economy transition is evidence-based.
Thematic Areas of Research
- The Circular Economy Demonstration Fund aims to directly support projects aligned with one or more of the circular economy principles:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Keep products and materials in use at their highest value
- Regenerate natural systems
- Applicants may consider demonstration projects in any of the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Human settlements
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Mobility
- Including cross-cutting interventions in energy and water
Funding Information
- The demonstration fund will consider three funding sizes:
- Grant amount:
- ≤ R500,000
- Duration:
- Maximum 12 months
- Grant amount:
- ≤ R1,000,000
- Duration:
- Maximum 18 months
- Grant amount:
- ≤ R2,500,000
- Duration:
- Maximum 24 months
- Grant amount:
Eligibility Criteria
- Only researchers employed by South African Universities, Science Councils and other public research institutions, working in relevant disciplines, are invited to submit proposals for the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund.
- The CSIR, who will manage the fund on behalf of the DSTI, will contract directly with the successful University or Science Council, who will be responsible for managing relationships with the implementation partner(s) to ensure that the objectives of the project are met.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Businesses, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), other private sector organizations are not eligible to apply directly to the Demonstration Fund.
Evaluation Criteria
- All proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Strategic importance to South Africa: The demonstration project has the potential to directly, and positively, influence the adoption and scaling of a circular economy intervention(s) in South Africa.
- Status of the intervention: The project uses proven technology/process improvement/innovation (as appropriate), that is currently under-utilized in South Africa (verified in relevant environment or context)
- Innovation of the intervention: The demonstration project showcases innovative circular economy interventions, e.g., through the technology, or combination of technologies/process improvements, not yet applied in South Africa
- Contribution by the research partner: There must be a clear demonstration that the contribution by the University or Science Council will assist the private sector partner (implementation partner), to de-risk, scale, localise, demonstrate, etc. the circular economy intervention.
For more information, visit DSTI.