The Innovation Hub, CICSA Incubator

Name of competition:

Innovation competition

Date of the competition:

November 2020

Location of the competition:

The awards are usually hosted at The Innovation Hub’s Offices in Lynwood, Pretoria, but could be held virtually in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Description of the competition:

GAP Green is hosted annually by The Innovation Hub Management Company (TIHMC) in Pretoria, South Africa. TIHMC is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) which is an agency of Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Economic Development (GDED). In the light of the global imperative to use our resources with great responsibility, the GAP Green innovation competition aims to support innovations that more effectively manage the use of water and energy by citizens and enterprises in Gauteng, whilst ensuring the preparedness and adaptability of the broader population to the effects of climate change and increased competition and associated costs for essential resources.

Awards/prizes on offer:

Gap Green selects 4 winners which receive incubation services from The Innovation Hub’s Climate Innovation Centre, plus cash award and seed funding. 4 winners to share seed fund of R 600 000.00 and the following from incubation:

·         Incubation at Climate Innovation Centre

·         Tech & business mentors

·         Technical development partners

·         Subsidised offices space 

·         IP advisory

·         Networking & access to Market

Eligibility criteria for applicants:

GAP Green is looking for innovative entrepreneurs that are looking to mainstream the adoption of green technologies amongst the majority of citizens as a way to increase access to resources at lower cost, minimise the effects of unmanaged pollution and waste, whilst reducing the financial and environmental impact of industry and government.

We are seeking strong technical solutions from universities and research institutes but also specifically invite submissions related to grassroots, community and social innovations that have been developed to address a local problem related to energy, water, housing, transport, sanitation. For example, the innovation may be an organizational innovation in the form of a local forum, NGO or CBO that has been created to coordinate and increase access to services by the community. Or it may be a technology or process developed locally to address a common issue in the area.

Application costs:

Application is free, but applicants will be responsible for travelling and accommodation should they be shortlisted and invited to attend training as well as pitching sessions at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria.

Application windows and procedure:

Application for the competition opens the first quarter (February/March) of the year each year and closes in (June/July) of that year.