Submissions open for Danida Innovation and Business Explorer Programme (Denmark)

The purpose of Danida Innovation & Business Explorer (DIBE) is to address local development needs with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement. DIBE enables Danish companies to carry out commercial activities in developing countries where business and investments are often associated with relatively high costs and risks.

Funding Information

• The maximum financial support is 50 % of the total actual costs with a maximum of DKK 500,000. For established companies the minimum financial support is DKK 250,000. For start-ups the minimum financial support is DKK 100,000.

What does Danida Innovation & Business Explorer support?

• Danida Innovation & Business Explorer gives financial support to costs related to an exploration of a specific business opportunity in one of the developing countries. This means that the proposed project must be an opportunity already identified by the company. It is therefore assumed that the company already has a basic knowledge of the project and the country concerned.
• The Danish company can apply for financial support to:
  • The company’s expenses for salary and fees for work carried out in the developing country, as well as related international travel and accommodation expenses (see fixed hourly rates below). The work must be carried out by the Danish company’s permanently employed professional staff.
  • The project cost/budget can include up to 80 hours work in Denmark for preparation and completion of the project. Other costs incurred in Denmark are not refunded.
  • The Danish company may supplement its technical capacity with technical consultancy services provided by consultants (see fixed hourly rates below). It can be consultants who are normally associated with the Danish company or professional consultants in the developing country. The budget for consultancy services eligible for support must not exceed 20 % of the total budget.
  • Specific activities (non-salary) in the developing country in relation to the company’s/the alliance’s further exploration and identification regarding business opportunities in the local context. This includes workshops, costs in relation to demonstration projects and testing of equipment or products/services locally. The budget for activities eligible for support must not exceed 20 % of the total budget and is non-salary costs only.
• Financial support is not given to:
  • Cost of staff employed by the Applicant’s foreign subsidiaries or affiliated companies is not eligible for support.
  • General initial market studies and analyses cannot be financed under Danida Innovation & Business Explorer.
  • Danida Innovation & Business Explorer does not support activities or product areas as listed on the European Development Finance Institutions Exclusion List.
  • Consultancy service for project administration is not covered by Danida Innovation & Business Explorer.
  • Time spent outside the developing country, including costs incurred in Denmark, for preparation or completion of the project is not eligible for support beyond the 80 hours mentioned above.
  • Equipment and other expenses related to the activities are not eligible for support.
  • The cost of possible assistance by the Trade Council is not eligible for financial support from Danida Innovation & Business Explorer. Assistance from the Trade Council can be provided in accordance with the terms and conditions as specified on the Trade Council’s website.
  • Costs related to local travel in the project country are not eligible for support.
  • No overhead will be provided to Danish companies or other partners applying as part of an alliance.

In what countries is Danida Innovation & Business Explorer available?

• Low Income Countries:
  • Ethiopia
  • Niger
  • Somalia
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
• Lower Middle Income Countries:
  • Bangladesh
  • Egypt
  • Ghana
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Lebanon
  • Morocco
  • Myanmar
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Palestine
  • Philippines
  • Ukraine
  • Vietnam

Who can apply for support?

• Danida Innovation & Business Explorer is open for applications from companies registered in Denmark. The Danish company should have the necessary professional, organizational and financial resources to plan, implement and follow-up on the project in the project country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make an assessment of the Applicant’s resources as part of the evaluation of the application.
• To qualify the company must not have outstanding debt to the public authorities. Moreover, the company should submit annual accounts in accordance with accounting category B, C or D as defined in the Danish Act on Accounts.
• The applicant must possess the financial and technical resources required for implementation of the planned commercial engagement. If the applicant is a start-up it must possess relevant competencies and be able to demonstrate concrete results.
• In addition, the Danish company must meet certain requirements related to the company’s financial and technical capacity as well as prior experience from working in developing countries as outlined below.
• The minimum requirements if the applicant is an established Danish company are:
  • Minimum DKK 1 million in equity according to the most recent audited annual report
  • Minimum of five (5) full time employed professional staff according to the most recent audited annual report
• If the Danish company is a start-up the above minimum requirements do not apply.
• Applications received from start-ups will instead have to document a professional business plan and that the start-up possesses relevant competencies to plan, implement and follow-up on a DIBE project. Such competencies would be acquired through successfully having completed activities in other business projects demonstrating business acumen and relevant experience for activities envisioned.
• Applications received from start-ups that do not meet these requirements will not be considered for support.

For more information, visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.