Applications are open for Bioscience Innovation Bootcamp 2021 for empowering entrepreneurial scientists to develop innovative and commercially viable biobased ideas.

Background

BioInnovate Africa is a regional innovation-driven bioeconomy initiative established in 2010 with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It is implemented by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), and operates in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and also involves partners in South Sudan. BioInnovate Africa (BA) assists countries in eastern Africa to build a sustainable bioeconomy based on revolutionary advances in bioscience and bioengineering, thereby diversifying sources of economic growth in the region.

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform cocreated by ILRI and the African Union/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) under the African Biosciences Initiative. The Hub serves 18 countries in eastern and central Africa (ECA). With support from Sida, the Hub mobilizes bioscience for Africa’s development, through demand driven research, capacity building and providing access to state of the art biosciences research facilities to scientists addressing challenges of African agriculture.

About the Bioscience Innovation Bootcamp

BioInnovate Africa and BeCA-ILRI Hub in collaboration with Inclusive Business Sweden and Villgro Africa have organised a 5-day bioscience innovation bootcamp for entrepreneurial scientists in central and eastern Africa to empower them to develop innovative and commercially viable biological based ideas in areas including but not limited to

• Agroecology
• Bioenergy
• Biomaterials
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Food and Feed
• Green chemicals
• Plant and animal diseases diagnostics
• Wastewater treatment

Criteria

Applicants for Bioscience Innovation Bootcamp should be

• Either scientists/researchers employed at a university, research organisation or private company in any of the listed countries.
• Or postgraduate students studying at a university or research organisation in any of the listed countries.

Benefits

Participants at Bioscience Innovation Bootcamp will

• Gain skills in packaging your innovative idea and making it commercially viable and ready for investment.
• Increase your chances of being eligible for future funding and technical assistance by BioInnovate Africa and Villgro Africa.
• Have the opportunity to pitch your innovative idea to potential investors during the bootcamp and a possibility to secure funding.
• Also network with a wide range of stakeholders during the second regional Bioeconomy conference taking place in November 2021.

Selection Criteria

• An innovative biobased idea with potential for commercial application (40 points)
• Technical proof of concept will be preferred over unproven ideas (30 points).
• A committed multidisciplinary team of three (3) members. It is highly preferable to have the idea bearer in the team (30 points).

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