Oct 25, “African Innovation Collaborations for Net Zero Places” Funding Competition

Description

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £2 million in innovation projects. This activity forms part of the Net Zero Living programme.

These projects will build innovation partnerships and demonstrate urban solutions to accelerate a just transition to net zero. We are looking for demonstrations of the collaborative solutions developed, that target clearly identified challenges or needs, in the UK market, the African partners market, or both.

The aim of this competition is to:

Accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved net zero solutions in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and the UK

Test and demonstrate solutions which support a socially just and inclusive net zero transition

Create equitable partnerships between net zero innovators in the UK, and their counterparts in three target African markets

Share lessons and experience on how challenges are addressed in different innovation ecosystems in order to develop more successful joint approaches and to broaden the reach of existing approaches

Your proposal must demonstrate an in depth understanding of the opportunities from, and the systemic barriers to the delivery of net zero objectives.

Grant

Your total eligible project costs must be between £150,000 and £300,000.

Your project

Your project must:

Have total eligible project costs between £150,000 and £300,000

Have one or more partner businesses that are registered and operating in one or more of the three target African markets

Have partner costs for the African partners that are between 40% and 50% of the total eligible project costs

Last between 6 and 12 months

Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK or Africa

Start by 1 April 2024

End by 31 March 2025

Projects must always start on the first of the month and this must be stated within your application. Your project start date will be reflected in your grant offer letter if you are successful.

You must only include eligible project cost in your application.

Your proposal

The aim of this competition is to:

Accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved net zero solutions in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and the UK

Test and demonstrate solutions which support a just and inclusive net zero transition

Create equitable partnerships between net zero innovators in the UK, and their counterparts in three target African markets

Share lessons and experience on how challenges are addressed in different innovation ecosystems in order to develop more successful joint approaches, and to broaden the reach of existing approaches

Your project must:

Address the need of urban areas to move towards net zero

Focus on one or more critical system challenges in urban environments, such as power, heating and cooling, mobility, sustainable manufacturing, resource management, environmental improvement, citizen engagement and behaviour change

Demonstrate a technology that will help the target countries of the UK, Kenya, South Africa or Nigeria with their transition to net zero

incorporate a trial of your project solution in the UK market, or the collaborating African market, or both

Pay particular attention to driving a just transition to net zero by considering how best to meet the needs of underserved demographic markets in a net zero way

Test the more innovative deployment of complex net zero solutions, for example, by making it more cost effective, enhancing the co-benefits, or adopting principles of frugal innovation

Consider how to use and adapt the lessons of trials deployed in the African market to the net zero challenges in the UK

Demonstrate accessibility and inclusion in the project, including for those in the systems and end users

Be delivered within an urban area, as defined by your project, and the size and scale must be appropriate to your objectives and budget

Take a systems based approach to net zero that supports and enhances system interoperability where appropriate

Have a fair partnering arrangement, collaborative relationship and clear roles between UK and African partners, for example, complimentary technology or enhanced offerings which must demonstrate clear benefits for both parties

Meet a clear need in the target market

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; “African Innovation Collaborations for Net Zero Places” Funding Competition

List of All Current Scholarships for International Students – Updated Daily – Apply Today! Click Here!