The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation, is calling for the submission of funding applications for developing innovative natural resource and energy technologies.

The technology focus areas include water and sanitation, particularly digitisation for water and wastewater treatment plants and other efficiency technologies; circular economy, particularly waste-to-energy and alternative packaging to reduce plastic; and mining and minerals, particularly mining support technologies that enhance minerals beneficiation and mining digitisation, and which support the implementation of low-carbon footprints.

The TIA is also looking for technologies to combat the immediate effects of loadshedding, including microgrids, smart grids, energy management systems, energy storage and solar technologies, as well as decarbonisation, e-mobility, hydrogen, fuel cell and lithium-ion battery solutions.

Applications are invited from South African startup companies; small, medium-sized and microenterprises; private individuals; science councils; higher education institutions; and any other recognised legal entity.

A technology or process development must focus on the natural resources or energy sector and demonstrate a viable, feasible and sustainable business case. It must also ensure positive socioeconomic impacts and have a demonstrated proof of concept.

Applicants applying for funding from the TIA must be South African citizens or registered in South Africa, or have their primary technology development activities based in South Africa and be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission or on the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database.

Applicants must also attend a compulsory briefing session through Teams that will be hosted on September 27 for applicants in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga and on September 28 for applicants in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.

Individuals who will be attending the briefing session must send their confirmation to customerservice@tia.org.za by September 26. To submit an application, individuals can visit https://funding.tia.org.za/gateway by no later than October 13.