New Global Alliance Innovation Exchange Challenges for Africa - now open! Deadline to apply: 8 July 2022

This work forms part of the Global Alliance Africa Open Innovation Intervention

*** Register here for an Online Information Session on 24 June 2022! ***

Global Alliance Innovation Exchange

Global Alliance Innovation Exchange is an Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance programme specially designed to help UK and international organisations search for game-changing solutions to innovation challenges. Through the programme, we support innovation transfer by matching industry or societal challenges to innovative companies from across a diverse range of sectors. Our success is built on our deep sector expertise, trusted independence and global network.

The power of cross-sector collaboration

Leveraging expertise across our diverse network, Global Alliance Innovation Exchange promotes innovation transfer, matching real industry challenges from large businesses or societal challenges from governments, to companies and innovators already working on potential solutions.

Our unique cross-sector approach taps into the power of collaboration providing technical solutions from other sectors. Our challenge owners are keen to evolve collaborative partnerships with UK and international companies and academics, fostering new and innovative approaches to sector and societal challenges.

Can you identify innovative solutions to significant and immediate global challenges? We’d love to hear from you!

African AgriFood Challenges

Deadline to apply: 8 July 2022

The Global Alliance Innovation Exchange competition, delivered by Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance and funded through the UK Aid`s Africa Technology and Innovation Partnership (ATIP) Programme, is to identify innovative solutions to significant and immediate challenges. Two challenges for Africa are now open. New markets for innovative programmes under AgriFood await. More information on each of these exciting opportunities is below:

Global Alliance Africa is supporting a large agri-based manufacturing company to find innovative solutions to prevent crop damage caused by migrating birds.

Damage to crops by birds is an enormous challenge in Africa. As the birds migrate across the country, they often find suitable food sources in farm crops. The birds will nest nearby in great numbers and take advantage of the localised, plentiful food supply. Harming these flocks is not an option. So the farmers need to find a way of either keeping them from landing on the crops or moving them on further down their migration routes. This innovation challenge is looking for novel solutions to address this issue.

Prevent crop damage caused by migrating birds – apply here.

Global Alliance Africa is supporting a large agri-based manufacturing company to find affordable and easy to maintain solutions for Sorghum grain threshing (and other grains).

East Africa traditionally has a structure of small farms over large areas of land where farmers grow a wide variety of food and industrial crops. Most of the farm operations are being carried out by hand. Crops are harvested manually, dried and threshed on the farm before being transported for sale. This post-harvest grain handling leads to an estimated 20-30% yield loss, affecting farmers’ revenue and livelihood. This innovation challenge is looking for versatile pieces of mobile equipment that may be used by farmers to improve this situation.

Find affordable and easy to maintain solutions for Sorghum grain threshing – apply here.

Deployment Timescale for the above challenges:
• Launch of the Competition: 27 May 2022
• Online Info Session: 24 June 2022 – Register here
• Deadline for applications: 8 July 2022
• Selection and notification of finalists: 29 July 2022
• Date of Pitch day: August 2022 TBC

For more information on these challenges, and to apply, click on the links above or visit the Global Alliance Innovation Exchange website.