The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) has officially launched its Expression of Interest (EOI) call, inviting African-led innovation consortia to apply for catalytic grants between €100,000 and €250,000. The initiative supports digital and climate-positive solutions across sectors such as Blue Tech, Energy, Smart Mobility, Smart Cities, and frontier technologies.

Selected consortia will benefit from:

• Funding: €100,000–€250,000 structured as milestone-based non‑dilutive grants
• Mentorship: Technical guidance and investment-readiness support
• Visibility: Access to a pan-African and European innovation network

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, consortia must:

1. Be African-led, with at least two partners (one Sub-Saharan African lead and another from Africa or Europe)
2. Align with JIF’s mission of inclusive, sustainable innovation across Africa and Europe
3. Develop digitally enabled solutions, ideally using AI, IoT, or similar frontier technologies for climate resilience
4. Demonstrate a commercially viable model with market potential
5. Commit to 20% co-financing (minimum 10% in cash)
6. Have at least 30% women in leadership roles
7. Operate with transparent governance and accountability systems
8. Include African partners based in designated priority countries (e.g., Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia

Application & Timeline

• EOI Call opens: July 17, 2025
• Deadline: August 4, 2025
• Next Steps: Shortlisted consortia will proceed to a full proposal stage after due diligence and evaluation

How to Apply?

Gather your consortium, prepare evidence of governance systems, commercial strategy, and co-financing plan, then submit your EOI before August 4, 2025. APPLY HERE