Application Deadline: 16 August 2021 at 23:59 hrs Nairobi Time
BioInnovate Africa is a regional innovation-driven bioeconomy initiative established in 2010 with
support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It is implemented by
the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), and operates in Burundi, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and also involves partners in South Sudan. BioInnovate Africa (BA)
assists countries in eastern Africa to build a sustainable bioeconomy based on revolutionary advances in
bioscience and bioengineering, thereby diversifying sources of economic growth in the region.
The Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub
is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform co-created by ILRI and the African Union/New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) under the African Biosciences Initiative. The Hub serves 18 countries in eastern and central Africa (ECA). With support from Sida, the Hub mobilizes bioscience for Africa’s development, through demand-driven research, capacity building, and providing access to state-of-the-art biosciences research facilities to scientists addressing challenges of African agriculture.
BioInnovate Africa and BeCA-ILRI Hub in collaboration with Inclusive Business Sweden and Villgro Africa
have organised a 5-day bioscience innovation bootcamp for entrepreneurial scientists in central and
eastern Africa to empower them to develop innovative and commercially viable biological based ideas in
areas including but not limited to:
Empowering entrepreneurial scientists to develop innovative and commercially
viable biobased ideas.
• Agroecology
• Bioenergy
• Biomaterials
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Food and Feed
• Green chemicals
• Plant and animal diseases diagnostics
• Wastewater treatment
Requirements
This call shall be limited to citizens and/or nationals of any of the following countries, where BioInnovate
Africa and BecA-ILRI Hub network exists:
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central Africa Republic
• Congo Brazzaville
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Rwanda
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
Applicants should be:
a. Either scientists/researchers employed at a university, research organisation or private company in
any of the listed countries.
b. Or postgraduate students studying at a university or research organisation in any of the listed
countries.
Benefits of participating in the bootcamp.
i. You will gain skills in packaging your innovative idea and making it commercially viable and ready
for investment.
ii. You will increase your chances of being eligible for future funding and technical assistance by
BioInnovate Africa and Villgro Africa.
iii. You will have the opportunity to pitch your innovative idea to potential investors during the bootcamp
and a possibility to secure funding.
iv. Additionally, you will network with a wide range of stakeholders during the second regional
Bioeconomy conference taking place in November 2021.
Selection criteria
i. An innovative biobased idea with potential for commercial application (40 points)
ii. Technical proof of concept will be preferred over unproven ideas (30 points).
iii. A committed multidisciplinary team of three (3) members. It is highly preferrable to have the idea
bearer in the team (30 points).
How to apply
i. Applicants should complete an online application form that can be found at this link.
ii. The following documents should be uploaded through the online form.
• A support letter/email from your organisation of affiliation (signed by e.g., the head of department
or supervisor)
• CVs of the team
• A one-page personal motivation statement by the team leader
• A PowerPoint application document uploaded in this format using these guidelines.
Application deadline
The deadline for receiving applications is 16 August 2021 at 23:59 hrs Nairobi Time. Late submissions
will be disqualified.
Next Steps
Successful teams will be notified through email by 3rd September 2021. Selected teams are expected to
participate in the bootcamp for five days on 11-15 October 2021. Teams with promising ideas will pitch
their innovative ideas to potential investors during a demo day on 15 October 2021.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Bioscience Innovation Bootcamp 2021