South Africa

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) has opened applications for the 2026 Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) – ICGEB Research Grants, a long-standing international funding mechanism designed to support high-quality, original research projects in ICGEB Member States.

Established in 1988, the CRP programme aims to:

Applications are now open for the 2026 SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards, a national funding and business support programme aimed at strengthening early-stage social innovations that address systemic barriers faced by vulnerable and underserved communities in South Africa.

The programme supports entrepreneurs, social enterprises, institutions, and innovators whose products, services, technologies, or business models respond to real socio-economic challenges affecting:

The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) has launched a targeted funding call to support the growth, expansion, and competitiveness of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) operating within the manufacturing sector and its subsectors in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

The Northern Cape Innovation Forum (NCIF) is calling for applications for its Innovator of the Month campaign, which recognises individuals and MSMEs with impactful, innovation‑driven ideas or projects in their community or industry. Winners gain visibility across NCIF platforms, automatic access to the RSIP/CSIR Annual Innovation Competition (ARIC/RSIP Regional Innovation Challenge) pipeline, and may become eligible for up to R150 000 in innovation support funding and mentorship through the NCIF Innovation Support and Mentorship Programme.

Eligible countries

The SASUF–NRF Seed Grants fund 2‑year collaborative research projects that link academia, industry and society in South Africa and Sweden, with a strong focus on real‑world impact and researcher mobility.

The SASUF–NRF Seed Grants are part of the SASUF+ (2025–2028) phase and are implemented jointly by the South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF) and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF). The programme supports interdisciplinary, cross-country consortia working across four priority themes:

The Local AIMday Grants support the organisation of Academic Industry Meeting Days (AIMdays) within the South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) network. AIMday is a structured dialogue format where researchers meet with industry, government and civil society to discuss concrete, real‑world challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The Million Lives Collective (MLC) has launched a Call for African Urban Innovations to identify and spotlight impactful, scale‑ready solutions that are shaping smart, healthy, equitable and resilient cities across Sub‑Saharan Africa. The call targets innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers whose solutions address pressing urban challenges for low‑income residents and have a credible pathway to reach one million or more urban Africans living on less than USD 5.50 per day.

The 2026 Western Cape Economy Innovation Awards are now open for nominations, celebrating innovations that strengthen the Western Cape economy and create jobs across the private sector, academia, non-profits and the public sector.