API Innovation Cluster (APIIC) Expression of Interest
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is inviting suitable candidates to express their interest in joining a national initiative known as the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Innovation Cluster (APIIC). This cluster is driven by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), with the CSIR serving as the host.
Purpose and Context
This call, "Process Development for the Production of APIs Using Modern Manufacturing Technologies – Translational Development Call," aims to address critical challenges in South Africa’s health system, including drug shortages, concerns over poor-quality medicine, and significant reliance on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This reliance creates a security of supply risk and contributes to a significant trade deficit.
The APIIC's primary focus is driving the local manufacture of APIs in South Africa. The current Expression of Interest (EoI) seeks to align capabilities across various higher education institutions (HEIs), science councils, and commercial companies to establish a National Programme for the production of small-molecule APIs for human health using modern manufacturing technologies.
The Opportunity and Translational Support
The core goal of this EoI is to support researchers and institutions seeking to scale their proof-of-concept API production processes (or advanced intermediates) from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TRL 6+. This involves demonstrating the synthesis of selected small molecule APIs at laboratory-pilot scale.
The APIIC is interested in processes that demonstrate synthetic improvements to enhance competitiveness, such as:
• New routes that reduce reaction steps or improve yields.
• The application of green process design, offering high "atom economy" and minimizing waste.
• Batch processes, continuous flow processes, biocatalytic processes, or hybrid systems.
Projects must address a clear market need for molecules on the South African essential medicines list whose patents have expired, or those in specific high demand across the African region (e.g., anti-retrovirals or new anti-malarial drugs).
The APIIC, utilizing DSTI/TIA funding, provides support through implementing partners: the CSIR and Chemical Process Technologies (CPT) Pharma (via the API+ Laboratory). This support includes access to infrastructure (like the FuturePHARMA facility), skilled human resources (scientists, engineers), scale-up support, technology validation, and expert analytical assistance. Importantly, applicant institutions will retain full ownership of all background intellectual property (IP).
Application Requirements and Deadlines
This is an open call for proposals from local researchers, universities, science councils, other public research organizations, and Enterprises registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residence holders.
Applicants must use the specific APIIC proposal template which requires comprehensive details on the project, including:
• A Project Summary detailing progress achieved and translational development interest (TRL 3 to 6).
• Differentiating features of the proposed process compared to existing API production processes.
• Specific market need, potential market size, and route to market.
• Intellectual property status (ownership or licensing).
• Expected social and economic outcomes and impact.
The closing date for applications is 17:00 CAT (or SAST) on 31 October 2025.
Applications must be submitted via email to APIIC@csir.co.za.
Click here to visit the website.