Agricultural Bio-Innovation Partnership Programme (ABIPP) projects- South Africa

TIA is calling for the submission of funding applications for Agricultural Bio-Innovation Partnership Programme (ABIPP) projects to address recent biosecurity outbreaks and cross-cutting sectoral needs.

Through this call TIA invites proposal for projects that would strengthen South Africa’s biosecurity, food security, and agricultural resilience by supporting innovation across the bio-economy. Solutions supported by this call are expected to respond to recent animal disease outbreaks given the current national and regional imperatives in this area.

Applications are invited from any recognised South African legal entity, including public and private entities, industry associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), not-for-profit organisations (NPOs), start-up companies, small, medium and micro enterprises, private individuals, research institutions, science councils and higher education institutions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
✓ Applications will be assessed against the following:
✓ Must address biosecurity issues in South Africa
✓ Alignment with the Decadal Plan and related government priorities.
✓ Novelty of the proposed innovation.
✓ Localisation of core technologies Demonstrated market need, a clear path to commercialisation, and capacity to execute.
✓ Expected economic and/or social impact.
✓ Suitability and capacity of the team.
✓ Budgets must be realistic, aligned to the project plan and deliverables, and compliant with South African regulatory requirements
✓ Co-funding or in-kind contributions, especially for TRL 5 and above.
✓ Preference for women, youth, persons with disabilities, black entrepreneurs, and applicants from underserved provinces.

COMPULSORY REQUIREMENTS
✓ Technology or process development must align with the stated technology focus areas or sectors.
✓ Demonstrate a viable, feasible and sustainable business case.
✓ Demonstrate positive socio-economic impact and embed skills development through training of students, technicians,artisans or other practitioners.
✓ Must have a proven, tested and validated proof of concept (TRL 4 and above).
✓ Applications must show a strong, transformation-focused consortium with meaningful stakeholder collaboration, includingprivate-sector participation, co-funding or in-kind support, partnerships, technology transfer, skills development and socio-economic pathways. All members must be disclosed with signed agreements or letters of intent outlining roles andresponsibilities.
✓ Declare all previous public-sector funding received.
✓ For applications involving IP, applicants must provide a clear IP description, management strategy, ownership structureand (where available) proof of freedom to operate, managed in line with South African regulations. Foreign-owned IP mustbe licensed or assigned to the applicant before funding is approved, with proof provided.
✓ Project duration may be up to three years, with yearly funding subject to performance and ABIPP Steering Committeeapproval.
✓ Include a co-funding component, disclose the amount with a letter of intent, and provide formal proof during full applicationstage.
✓ Primary technology development must take place within South Africa.
✓ Applicants must attend the compulsory briefing session.
✓ Individual applicants must be South African citizens with valid identity documents.
In the case of legal entities:
✓ Must be registered or in a process of registering with the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission.
✓ Must be registered or in the process of registering on National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database.

✓ Be Cooperative

✓ Funding