CFPs: Visibility and Validation of Innovations for Service Delivery – Decision Support Tools (South Africa)

Deadline: 17 March 2025

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) is calling for proposals for the Visibility and Validation of Innovations for Service Delivery (VVISDP) – Decision Support Tools.

The VVISDP is one of three work streams within the Support Programme for the National System of Innovation (SP4NSI) funded by the European Union (EU) and National Treasury to support the Government of South Africa to improve the National System of Innovation and respond to the priorities of the National Development Plan (NDP).

The programme focuses on supporting a small number of pilot projects that will serve to demonstrate the systemic viability of innovation(s) (or specific technologies) – for improving the access, availability acceptability, adaptability and quality of essential basic services with a view of promoting the realisation of socio–economic rights for all.

Against this background, TIA is implementing a programme on “Decision Support” Tools. This is a programme to promote the demonstration of appropriate Decision Support Tools specifically designed to assist decision makers in making more informed and efficient decisions. Managing information in the modern digital era and intricate settings necessitates heightened precision and swifter processing than before. Attaining such velocity would be unattainable without a contemporary system such as a Decision Support Tool. A decision support tool is an interactive information system that analyses substantial amounts of data to provide insights for business decision-making. A decision support tool enhances the decision-making process of an organization by evaluating the importance of uncertainties and the trade-offs associated with choosing one option over another. It provides help to the management, operations, and planning levels of the organization.

Purpose/Objective

They invite public sector organisations, private sector companies, and academic institutions to submit proposals for innovative projects that leverage:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems which will aim to tackle pressing challenges associated with crime in South Africa enhancing safety in highly affected areas.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions that will improve sustainability and community health by addressing urgent issues related to illegal dumping in South Africa.
- Building Information Management (BIM) as a decision support tool. The focus of this initiative is to enhance infrastructure management, urban planning, and resource allocation in South Africa, fostering more sustainable, efficient, and connected communities.

Funding Information

This is a competitive Call, and proposals will be assessed based on the selection criteria.
Competitive grants will be awarded to projects based on innovation, impact potential, and sustainability.

Eligible Projects

Proposals should address one of the following three projects:
- Project 1: AI-Driven Crime Prevention and Community Safety Tool.
  - Develop predictive analytics tools to identify and foresee crime hotspots using historical data, socio-economic indicators, and environmental factors.
  - Implement AI algorithms for monitoring public spaces through surveillance systems for real-time threat detection.
  - AI-GIS Decision Support Tool for Community Safety pilot site establishment and upkeep
  - Transform unstructured and organised non-spatial data into useful spatial datasets, offer spatial data digitization services.
  - Develop a plan with the goal of creating a city that encourages business, has safe public areas, and has strong transit connections.
- Project 2: AI-Driven Tool Linked to Illegal Dumping Sites.
  - Design community engagement platforms that utilize AI to crowdsource information regarding suspicious activities and illegal dumping.
  - Proposals should include methods for integrating environmental sensors into decision support tools to monitor waste levels and predict illegal dumping patterns.
  - Create platforms for community reports on pollution and crime, harnessing AI for data analysis and response planning.
  - Assess policy on waste management in participating South African municipalities, particularly in relation to illegal dumping and waste pickers.
  - Assess opportunities for supporting waste pickers and connecting them to recycling companies or established businesses in a South African context, particularly linked to Corporate Social Investment (CSI)
- Project 3: Pilot of the BIM technology in South African Context.
  - Evaluation of BIM’s use in the housing industry both in Africa and abroad.
  - Test the BIM technology in a single project related to sustainable human settlements.
  - Building Stakeholders’ and Human Capital Development’s BIM Capacity
  - Examine the technical requirements and policy implications for the adoption of BIM.
  - Analyse the cost-benefit and complete life cycle costs of implementing BIM in the SHS industry.
  - Create a business case for the long-term rollout of BIM and gather funds and resources to ensure the sustainability and long-term use of BIM techniques in the SHS industry.