Call for Submissions: Technology Business Development Fund (Zambia)

In accordance with the 8thNational Development Plan, which focuses on economic transformation, industrialisation, and adding value in essential sectors such as Mining, Agriculture, and Manufacturing, the NTBC invites eligible applicants to submit Concept Notes for the 2025 TBDF Call.

Objectives

• The overall objective of the TBDF is to provide support for development of technological innovations in order to enhance enterprise competiveness and sustainable growth.
• Specific Objectives
  • Fund late applied research to fast track commercialization of innovations
  • support the development or improvement of new or existing products, processes or services
  • promote protection and utilization of Intellectual Property Rights
  • support technology transfer, adaptation, adoption and diffusion
  • to promote inclusive growth by supporting technological innovations from marginalized groups and peri-urban or rural populations
  • promote the use of locally developed technology and value addition to local raw materials
  • support commercialisation of technological innovations in strategic priority sectors
  • supplement the cost for technology development in start-up capital of enterprises

Focus Areas

• The Call specifically targets early-stage start-ups, innovators, and institutions with market-ready or near- market innovations in the following priority technology areas:
  • Animal husbandry, genetics, biotechnology, and veterinary science
  • Mining Technologies
  • Agricultural Technologies
  • Manufacturing Technologies
  • Cross-Cutting Emerging Technologies

Funding Information

• The Fund shall be disbursed to accommodate the different stages of technology development and commercialisation as:
  • Grant – these will be finances provided to undertake particular stages of a project and where repayment is not expected, provided the conditions under which the financing was granted are fulfilled. The ceiling for a grant shall be K500, 000.00 or as approved by the Fund Management Committee.
  • Matching grant – finances awarded towards early manufacturing of a project on agreed terms and conditions. The project should demonstrate potential for commercial viability and growth. Further, applicants must demonstrate matching financial support. The Fund shall match up to a maximum of 50% of the total proposed project budget but not exceeding K500, 000.00 or as approved by the Fund Management Committee. Conversely, the matching levels shall vary from project to project.

Target Group

• The target group of the TBDF includes:
  • The micro, small and medium entrepreneurs with a technological innovation.
  • Institutions of higher learning and Research and Development (R&D) institutions
  • Technology innovators and developers d.Technical and vocational institutions

Eligibility Criteria

• The TBDF is open to all Zambian institutions and individuals
• The general eligibility is that the qualifying project should be one that will primarily facilitate technology development, transfer, adaptation, adoption and commercialization. The project should demonstrate evidence of innovativeness and competitiveness.
• The eligibility criteria for TBDF projects will be prioritized to products/ processes/ services that:
  • have potential for employment and wealth creation
  • are in value addition to available local raw materials
  • have potential for export
  • are a direct or indirect intervention to an identified societal challenge
  • have potential to contribute to import substitution
  • are innovative projects with high growth potential
  • demonstrate some commercial value
  • may have benefitted from the Youth Innovators’ Fund, Strategic Research Fund or any other funding initiatives for early applied research
  • can demonstrate follow up support beyond the project period

For more information, visit NTBC.