Call For Applications: Youth Technology and Innovation Program 2024
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). TIA promotes the development and exploitation of discoveries, inventions and innovations to improve the quality of life for all South Africans by bridging the innovation chasm between research and commercialization.
The object of TIA is to support the State in stimulating and intensifying technological innovation to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans by developing and exploiting technological innovations.
TIA’s focus is on technology development; from proof of concept to pre-commercialization. To achieve this, TIA established the following funds: the Seed Fund, the Technology Development Fund, and the Commercialisation Support Fund.
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As a pilot project, the current Call for Expression of Interest is targeted at public and private sector organizations, with an interest in addressing youth challenges, to support the implementation of the YTIP in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
Who we fund
Higher education institutions
To support researchers, and students and facilitate the development and commercialization of intellectual property generated from higher education institutions.
SMMEs and industry
To support businesses and facilitate the development and commercialization of innovation from growth companies and newly established technology-based companies
Science councils and research institutions
To support and facilitate the development and commercialization of intellectual property from publicly funded research and development to support creation of new industries, localization, and industry competitiveness.
Grassroots innovators
To support the innovators operating outside formal innovation institutions and have limited access to infrastructure.
What we fund
TIA funds and supports innovative technologies and ideas in any sector of the economy.
These must be:
- Innovative technology-based ideas for new or improved products, processes or services,
- Technologies that require facilitation for commercialization.
- Inbound technologies can be further improved, developed, adapted, and utilized by South Africans or in collaboration with international partners. These must comply with the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act 2008
Application Checklist
To qualify for financial support from TIA applicants must fulfil the following requirements:
- Applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residents with valid South African identity documents; OR
- Already existing juristic persons must (unless otherwise legally prohibited):
- Be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)
- Be compliant with generally accepted corporate governance practices appropriate to the client’s legal status
- Divestment by public servant shareholders (no shareholding by public servants)
- Registered on Central Supplier Database (CSD) (unless otherwise precluded from being registered as informed by National Treasury)
- Compliant tax status
- Applicants must have the necessary contractual capacity to engage with TIA
- All primary technology development activities must be conducted within South Africa, except with the written prior authorization from delegated officials within TIA
- For foreign-owned IP, the IP should be licensed or assigned to a local institution such as a University or Science Council or to an existing legal entity registered with CIPC
- Applicants with foreign-owned IP must meet policy and legislative requirements of minimum equity ownership by a South African entity and B-BBEE requirements as per the B-BBEE Act.
TIMELINES
Applications must be submitted by 17h00 on 27 September 2024, no applications will
be considered after 17:00 on the closing date.
Deadline: 27 September 2024