The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) was established in terms of the TIA Act, 2008 (Act No. 26 of 2008), with the objective to stimulate, intensify and exploit technological innovation to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans.

PURPOSE OF THE CALL

TIA is calling for the submission of funding applications for developing innovative energy technologies within the Hydrogen Economy. The technological innovations may include fuel cells for mobile and stationary applications, production of green hydrogen, as well as infrastructure for storage, distribution and dispensing hydrogen.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applications are invited from the following South African institutions for consideration

• Start-up companies
• Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
• Private Individuals
• Science Councils (SCs)
• Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
• Any other recognized legal entities in South Africa

The applications must meet the following criteria:

• A technology or process development must focus on supporting the implementation of the Hydrogen Society Roadmap.
• Demonstrate a viable, feasible and sustainable business case.
• Demonstrate a positive socio-economic impact.
• Have a proof of concept (an idea that has been proven, tested and validated that requires support for further development or scale up) i.e. TRL 4 or more.

Applicants applying for funding from TIA must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must be South African citizens with valid identity documents.
• Legal entities:
• Must be registered or in a process of registering with CIPC;
• Must be registered or in a process of registering on National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database (CSD);
• For foreign-owned IP:
• IP will need to be licensed or assigned to the applicant before funding is approved.
• Primary technology development activities must be conducted within South Africa.
• Attendance of compulsory briefing session
• Co-funding from applicant or other funders is preferred.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Applications will be assessed against:

• Novelty of the proposed innovation
• Capacity and ability to commercialize the innovation
• Partnerships with other stakeholders within the National System of Innovation and/or private sector
• Understanding of market need and how to address it
• Impact (economic and/or social)
• Suitability and capacity of team to execute project plan
• Localization of core/key technologies

CLOSING DATE

Applications must be submitted on the following portal: https://gms.tia.org.za/funding by no later than 23 September 2022. Late applications will not be accepted. For further information regarding the call for applications, please send your queries to: customerservice@tia.org.za  

COMPULSORY BRIEFING SESSION

Compulsory briefing sessions will be conducted on Microsoft Teams (link will be shared upon RSVP) to facilitate and assist applicants to understand the Call requirements. The briefing sessions will take place on the following dates: (Gauteng, North-West, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga – 8 September 2022) and (KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape – 9 September 2022) from 10h00 to 13h00. Individuals who are interested in attending the compulsory briefing session, must send a confirmation email to customerservice@tia.org.za by no later than 2 September 2022.