Technology Acquisition and Deployment Fund (TADF) Pilot Programme – South Africa

The objective of the Technology Acquisition and Deployment Fund (TADF) Mode 1 is to facilitate the deployment of locally developed technologies by SA technology developers to user clients i.e. Sector Departments and Municipalities. This instrument is also designed to provide market entry support, uptake and commercialisation of South African innovations developed by local technology Start-ups and SMMEs. Successful applicants will access financial support to develop market samples for customers and to deploy their innovations for use by the public sector and communities. The respondents and applicants to the TADF funds should be strictly local technology developers or SMME’s.

The proposed, locally developed, technologies/solutions must seek to solve a specific service delivery challenge, systems to improve the operational efficiency and the delivery of basic services in the public sector such as water, connectivity, human settlements, water treatment, energy, safety, waste, ICT, education, and sanitation.

Funding Parameters

• Successful applicants will be provided with a once-off grant funding of up to R1 million (including VAT) to support deployment (market testing, 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 potential customers and end-user (users, government department, municipality, etc.).

Who can apply?

• A local SMME/Entrepreneur that has a technology solution and/or product that has been developed locally.
• SMME/Entrepreneur who can demonstrate that the product and/or technology solution can assist to solve a social-economic challenge, and/or a service delivery challenge;
• Technology that has potential to be sourced and deployed by government departments and municipalities to enhance and/or improve operations and service delivery and to enable the entity to fulfil their mandate.
• Innovator/SMME should be the applicant to the TADF and will provide a technology solution for deployment to an identified user client (department/municipality) who has a challenge/technology need.

Qualifying Criteria

• Local content: The technology must be locally developed.
• Readiness for commercialisation: The technology solution and/or product must be fully developed and ready for market testing, validation and demonstration. If not certified, the applicant must demonstrate that the technology and/or product is in the process of certification and/or an appropriate SABS standard exists for such certification;
• Use of the technology: To be considered, the applicant should demonstrate how the solution will solve and/or improve a service in the public sector and or operations in the delivery of services in various sectors such as water, connectivity, human settlements, water treatment, energy, safety, waste, ICT, education and sanitation.
• Target Market: The applicant must clearly articulate who their potential customers and or potential product/technology users of the proposed product and/or technology solution. Potential customers could include, amongst others, government departments, municipalities, or public facilities.
• Route to market and sales plan: The applicant must, where possible demonstrate that the technology has a clear existing route to market and sales plan including an indicative/conditional off take agreement and/or evidence of interest for use and purchase from the potential client where possible.

For more information, visit Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).