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Join the ecosystem

The path of a visionary can be hard, complex and lonely. We have to interact with a complex network of organisations and people, and have to make decisions on issues that are difficult and often confusing. Not knowing what to do, or when to do it, often means having to work longer hours, sometimes with people who don’t always understand our vision for a better tomorrow. But it doesn’t always have to be that way.

We invite you to become a part of our Innovation Bridge Platform, a community designed to show you the way forward in this living, moving and complex ecosystem. You will be introduced to innovations; enterprises; business support offerings and investment opportunities, each playing their part in creating a prosperous African continent.

Just as living things thrive under perfect conditions, we believe that your endeavor’s can flourish in the right ecosystem.

Innovator

Are you an innovator?

You don’t want to start your own enterprise, but have a passion for creating new knowledge, processes, products, or models. You’re probably a researcher that wants others to benefit from your unique intellectual property and, looking to license or further develop your innovation.

Entrepreneur

Are you an Entrepreneur?

You want to be your own boss and have the drive to recognize opportunities and transform them into valuable enterprises. Or you already have an established enterprise(s).

Investor

Are you an Investor?

You want to support the creation of socio-economic wealth by investing monetary and non-monetary resources into services, enterprises and products. If so, start here:

Click Here

Do you guide, enable, and support the ecosystem?

You or your enterprise provide valuable support to innovators and entrepreneurs along their journey. Whether your support comes in the form of legal, business or financial advice or a fully-fledged incubator or technology station, we invite you to showcase your unique support offering to the ecosystem.

Ecosystem Supporter

Do you support or enable?

Does your organization enable and support our platform’s ecosystem roleplayers? If so, start here:

Take your business to the next level, become remarkable with local innovation.

Our country is filled with remarkable people and remarkable ideas. At the Department of Science and Innovation, we help businesses turn ideas into action by enabling local health innovation to grow our health industry while meeting the needs of society.

Happenings

Keep up to date with the latest ecosystem events and opportunities.

Request for Proposals: Consultancy to Address Policy, Regulatory and Interoperability Barriers to Digital Market Access in Six African Countries

The Smart Africa Secretariat invites qualified consulting firms to submit proposals for an assignment examining and addressing policy, regulatory, institutional and technical barriers that prevent young people, particularly young women and youth-led enterprises, from participating in domestic and

Request for Proposals: Digital Market and Digital Skills Gap Assessment Across the SAMA Countries

The Smart Africa Secretariat invites qualified consultancy firms to submit proposals for a multi-country assessment of digital market opportunities and digital skills gaps across six countries participating in the Smart Africa Markets for All (SAMA) Programme. The assignment will generate evidence

AI and Intellectual Property in Africa (AIPA 2026): Co-Creating Research for Policy and Practical Strategies in Community-Oriented AI Innovations

The AI and Intellectual Property in Africa (AIPA 2026) Co-Creation Workshop is a two-day event bringing together researchers, innovators, legal professionals, policymakers and community stakeholders to examine the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property (IP), data

Our Partners

The Innovation Bridge Portal is an initiative of the South African National Departments of Science & Innovation (DSI), and Small Business Development (DSBD). The initiative is supported by the European Union (EU) and its content does not necessarily reflect the views of the EU.