The 2026 South Africa MedTech Innovation Challenge is designed to identify and support innovative technologies that can modernise healthcare delivery through the integration of smart devices, artificial intelligence (AI) and digitally connected clinical workflows. The Challenge focuses specifically on transforming mechanical, analogue and legacy diagnostic, therapeutic and assistive systems into more intelligent, connected and accessible healthcare solutions.

Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Cancer Healthcare Goals programme, is making up to £25.4 million available through a competitive grant funding competition to support the clinical validation and evaluation of innovative technologies and devices for the earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), through the Promoting Value Chains for Critical Raw Materials and Green Hydrogen and Derivatives in South Africa (H2.SA II / BVC) project, is inviting qualified service providers to develop a comprehensive and practical Handbook on Circular Economy in Green Hydrogen Value Chains.

Opportunity Type: Awards / Competition / Startup Development / Acceleration
Geographic Scope: ECOWAS Member States
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Opportunity Overview

The 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards is a regional initiative of the ECOWAS Commission designed to identify, recognise and support high-impact startups contributing to digital transformation, regional economic integration and sustainable value-chain development across West Africa.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), through its National Health Research Enterprise (NHRE) Programme, invites applications for research projects that address priority challenges within South Africa's health system.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has opened its 2026 Call for Expressions of Project Intentions (AMI) under the CSO Initiatives (CSO-I) mechanism, inviting civil society organisations (CSOs) to submit project intentions for initiatives to be co-financed in 2027.

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Space Infrastructure Hub (SIH) and South African National Space Agency (SANSA), is inviting applications for the Space Innovation Initiative Call for Proposals.

The call aims to strengthen South Africa's capabilities in Space Science and Technology by supporting the development and commercialisation of locally developed, sovereign space innovations.