Innovation Challenge: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH SAVax Programme, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, in partnership with the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), industry partners (Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Sartorius, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Siemens Healthineers), and South African innovation hubs (Wits Innovation Centre, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the University of the Free State), is pleased to launch the Innovation Challenge. SAVax is implemented as part of the Team Europe Initiative manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa (MAV+).

The Innovation Challenge aims to address unmet needs in women's health by supporting innovative, scalable, and locally relevant solutions. By connecting industry-defined challenges with South Africa's innovation ecosystem, the initiative seeks to identify critical gaps, accelerate the commercialization of promising innovations, strengthen entrepreneurship, and create sustainable impact in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. 

The Innovation Challenge consists of two streams:

• Biotechnologies: We are seeking innovative, scalable, and locally relevant diagnostic screening solutions that contribute to reducing the burden of disease affecting women in low- and middle-income countries. 
• Pharmaceuticals: We are seeking innovative, scalable, and locally relevant pharmaceutical products and drug delivery solutions that improve access to affordable and effective therapies for women's health conditions in low- and middle-income countries.

One winner will be selected from each stream. Each successful applicant will receive a grant of €75,000 to support the further development, validation, and scaling of their innovation.

Applications are invited from South African start-ups (minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3) and research groups or research institutions with innovations aligned to either the Biotechnologies or Pharmaceuticals challenge stream.

Successful applicants will be expected to implement their proposed project within six (6) months, and the proposed workplan and budget should clearly demonstrate how the project will be completed within this timeframe.

Further detailed information and downloads are available at Innovation Challenge Information Pack | GIZ. Interested applicants must submit their proposal through the application platform.

The submission of applications deadline is 17:00 close of business (COB) SAST on Monday 31 August 2026. Queries can be directed to: @email