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GAP Innovation competition aims to provide seed funding, support to entrepreneurs

11 Nov 2020

During Global Entrepreneurship Week, celebrated this year from 16-22 November, The Innovation Hub's annual competition, the Gauteng Accelerator Programme (GAP) Innovation competition aims to 'bridge this gap' by providing seed funding and development support to entrepreneurs working on novel technologies which positively impact society and improve the efficiency of government service.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio© from Pexels

South Africa’s scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs are among the top innovators in the world, yet few ideas make it from conceptualisation to implementation.

The GAP competition opened during lockdown in April 2020 and all those who entered stand a chance of winning their share of R3 million in prize money and R 2 million in business support to help grow their business. “We’ve seen an increased drive and passion for getting things done and supporting our nation during this difficult time,” says Advocate Pieter Holl, CEO of The Innovation Hub.

We want to help drive innovation and inject cashflow into the economy by supporting our nation of dreamers and implementors.

The finalists for this year’s competition have been already been selected. Entrants represent their fields in five key categories: Township Economy, Bioscience, ICT, Medical and Green.

The Gauteng Accelerator Township Economy (GATE) category is aimed at identifying and nurturing township-based innovations that will contribute to growth and development in township economies. Last year’s winner, Kutsala Publishing, creates indigenous content that African children can relate to, changing the narrative for African storytelling.

GAP Bioscience assists scientists and entrepreneurs in pursuing commercially viable opportunities for cutting edge bioscience technologies, and GAP ICT identifies researchers and entrepreneurs working on ICT-based solutions to our country’s biggest challenges.

GAP medical focuses on identifying and nurturing health innovations that will contribute to the improvement of health service delivery in hospitals and GAP Green looks for emerging entrepreneurs developing green technology solutions. To manufacture affordable biodiesel and enable rural economic development and job creation, last year’s winners in the GAP Green category, Sanineat, grow low-cost drought resistant Moringa plants in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

“These categories have been meticulously chosen to bring forward the best projects that South African entrepreneurs and scientists have to offer. They represent the unique challenges that need solutions in South Africa today,” explains Advocate Holl.

The full list of entrants can be found here.