Call for Innovative Technologies and Models to support the City of Umlhlathuze (South Africa)

The City of uMhlathuze in the province of KZN in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) are currently implementing the Science, Technology, Engineering, English, and Mathematics (STEEM) as one of the District Development Model (DDM) supporting initiatives. The purpose of this call is to invite innovators and technology developers or SMME’s (Innovation Intermediaries) to submit proposals addressing any of the following areas:

• Applications that introduce new or enhanced ways of learning at schools through technology.
• Affordable ICT communication platforms for teachers, student and parents taking into account factors affecting rural schools in South Africa.
• STEEM supporting solutions/initiative to increase the performance in Science, Mathematics, English and Engineering outcomes of Grade 12.

The proposed technologies/initiatives or solutions must be geared towards or are relevant to addressing the City’s challenges with regards to youth unemployment. In this regard, the applicant is requested to submit competitive proposals for funding to support the uMhlathuze City’s YEEP Programme. Such solutions must be ready for demonstration and commercialization not a basic prototype or concept.

Call for Expression of Interest

The Technology Innovation Agency invites entrepreneurs, SMMEs, and/or start-ups who have created cutting-edge technological solutions that are market ready and have been commercialized and deployed to clients in the following areas to submit proposals:

• Improve educational learning at home and schools through technology.
• ICT Communication platforms for teachers, students and parents, while taking into account issues that affecting rural schools in South Africa.
• STEEM supporting solutions / initiative to increase the performance in Science, Mathematics, English and Engineering outcomes of Grade 12

Funding Information

Successful applicants will be provided with a once off grant funding of R500K up to R1 million (including VAT) to support deployment of the innovation in Amangwe High School (demonstration and validation activities) of the product and/or technology for a maximum period of 12 months for the actual project execution with the identified customer and end-user through the City of uMhlathuze in KZN.

Who can apply?

• An applicant that has a technology solution and/or product that has been developed locally and already commercialized.
• The technology responds to the following areas of focus:
  • Applications that introduce new or enhanced ways of learning at schools through technology.
  • ICT communication platforms between student, parent and school taking into consideration some of the factors that affect those living in rural areas of South Africa.
  • STEEM supporting solutions/initiative to increase the performance in Science, Mathematics, English and Engineering outcomes of Grade 12.
• The technology must be deployable at the Amangwe High School and 10 other surrounding schools in the radius between 10km – 15 kms from Amangwe High School.

Qualifying Criteria

• Local content: The technology must be locally developed.
• Readiness for commercialization: The technology solution and/or product must be fully developed and ready for demonstration.
• Use of the technology: To be considered, the applicant should demonstrate how the solution will solve and/or improve the education outcomes and performance of the school.
• Relevance and Responsiveness to the Call, the applicant must clearly articulate who their potential customers and or potential product/ technology users of the proposed product and/or technology solution are given this Call.
• Market Readiness and Track Record: The applicant must, where possible demonstrate that the technology has an existing market and sales plan and costing model. Furthermore, the applicant must show track record or evidence of prior usage of the innovation by clients that such a technology has been successfully demonstrated before.

For more information, visit Technology Innovation Agency.