Invitation for Digital Innovation Hubs | An opportunity for African innovation leaders

The African European Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB|NET) will establish twelve Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) in Africa and is looking for consortia consisting of at least two partners. They look for groups of organizations willing to work closely together to facilitate the creation of the DIHs in their respective regions, with a public-benefit objective and complementary expertise in either one of the following technological specialization areas: Climate Smart Agriculture, Digital Trade, Smart Cities and Clean Tech.

The types of organizations that can form a Digital Innovation Hub are: Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs); Universities and Research Centers; Incubators, Accelerators and Investors; Funding Entities and Local Banks; Chambers of Commerce; Industrial Clusters; Public Bodies; or any other organization supporting digital innovations.

African innovation leaders interested in applying for the AEDIB|NET Invitation for African Digital Innovation Hubs can find their partners in the Open Innovation Platform SAIRA. SAIRA is a matchmaking platform that enables innovators around the globe to find international partners and project opportunities.

www.saira.eco

After choosing one of the eligible topics, you can form your project team on SAIRA.

• If you already have a concept or idea in mind and are looking for partners, follow path A.
• If you don’t have a concept or idea in mind, but are interested in joining a consortia and apply, follow path B.

Path A: Create your opportunity on SAIRA
Choose one of the eligible topics and draft your concept or idea. Create and publish an Opportunity on SAIRA and wait for other users to express their interest in collaborating.

Path B: Respond to published opportunities on SAIRA
Check published Opportunities on SAIRA. Once you find one that matches with your interests and competences, express your interest in collaborating by submitting a Proposal to the opportunity owner.

The Invitation is open from 19th of November 2021 to 18th of January 2022 (first cut-off date) and 8th of February 2022 (second cut-off-date).

The incentives from AEDIB|NET for the Digital Innovation Hubs are:

• Financial (up to 70.000€ initial funding and reimbursement of travel expenses of up to 5.000€ per DIH)
• In-Kind Support (dedicated Angel Investor Network)
• Capacity Development (DIH Lab Phase 1 on Service Portfolio Development, Business Model & Marketing)
• Exposure & Networking (Participation in an Innovation Bootcamp)

The application form and more details are available here.

AEDIB|NET is a European HORIZON 2020 funded project meant to be a first step of a broader approach to enrich the African-European innovation ecosystem. It aims to fill digitalization and policy gaps while enhancing digital and entrepreneurship capacity pursuing the creation of twelve Digital Innovation Hubs in Africa.

AEDIB|NET is being implemented by a consortium of 13 members from Africa and Europe with Smart Africa joining in early 2022. More information about AEDIB|NET here.