CALL FOR PROPOSALS – The Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF)

BOTSWANA INNOVATION FUND

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION 6TH APRIL 2018 AT 23:59 CAT

OBJECTIVE

The Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF) is a Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology initiative, administrated by the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH).

The first call for proposal targets SMME and medium to large enterprises with scalable innovative projects with potential for commercialisation in the short to medium term. (12-24 months).

The first call is seeking for Innovative solutions in the sectors of Mining technologies. Clean technologies. Biotechnology (Agriculture and Health Technologies). Information and Communications technologies.

Knowledge intensive business services.

Indigenous Knowledge, that are at prototype phase or beyond, and have a less than 12-month period to commercialisation, as eligible for this call. Grants allocated under the BIF will be focused on economic sectors that have been selected as priorities for the Botswana national economic development plan, although productive innovations from other sectors will also be considered.

START-UP GRANTS covers innovation projects from proof of concept to Pre-Commercialisation in the development of a Product, or Process/Method.

• FOCUS—Early stage funding
• Maximum Grant:         BWP 500.000.00
• Funding Instalment: 100% Grant

ACCELERATION GRANTS for projects with an existing small-scale prototype to Pre-Commercialisation in the development of a Product, or Process/Method.

• Focus: Acceleration ready innovations

• Maximum Grant: BWP     500,000.00
• Funding Instrument: Conditional Grant (10% contribution)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• The funding is for companies registered with BIH as per the provision of the funding instrument.
• These members may be operating or domiciled in any part of the country.

• Current members of the Botswana Innovation Hub include the full members, technology entrepreneurship development program members, virtual members and IKS members.
• The Botswana Innovation Hub has made provision through the BIH governing policy on registration of members.
• The criteria for awarding places emphasis on projects with social impact, established and scalable market, technical feasibility and commercial viability.
• Those companies eligible for this call are members registered with BIH by 14th March 2018

APPLICATION PROCESS

• All application materials should be submitted to Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) via the BIH Member e-portal

• Fund Guidelines and Questions & Answers are available on the BIH website (bih.co.bw)

For further enquires please email: [email protected]