New Global Alliance Innovation Exchange Challenges for Africa - now open!

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 and Circular Economy Challenges

Deadline to apply 28th January 2022

The Global Alliance Innovation Exchange competition, delivered by Innovate UK KTN Global Alliance, is supporting Flamingo Horticulture, WEEE Centre and Unilever to identify innovative solutions to significant and immediate challenges. Five challenges for Africa are now open. New markets for innovative programmes under AgriFood and Circular Economy await. More information on each of these exciting opportunities are below:

KTN Global Alliance Africa is supporting Flamingo Horticulture to find innovative solutions to False Codling Moth Control in Fresh Chillies.

Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick), better known as the False Codling Moth (FCM), is an economically damaging pest impacting a variety of alternative host plants across its natural range in sub-Saharan Africa. Flamingo Horticulture, a horticultural business with a worldwide footprint that covers the farming, production, sales and marketing of fresh produce and flowers, seeks innovative solutions to control FCM.

Flamingo is launching 2 linked challenges looking for cross sectorial solutions to detect, screen and eradicate FCM in chilli crops: one in crops (while they are growing) and one in produce (during and after harvest).

Managing FCM in horticultural crops – apply here
Detecting and screening FCM in produce – apply here

Download the brochure here.

KTN Global Alliance Africa is supporting WEEE Centre to find innovative approaches to recycling problematic fractions of electronic waste.

As new technologies become rapidly available, recycling and re-use of e-waste is crucial to reduce environmental impact. In Kenya, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) are being replaced by new technologies. CRTs are bulky and contain hazardous elements which makes the disposal process complex. The WEEE Centre, who is currently processing the CRTs into different fractions, are looking for innovative solutions for the recycling and reuse of lead embedded screens and steering coils and are interested in exploring alternative uses of the CRTs, either in their natural state or new state after disposal. Apply here.

Download the brochure here.

KTN Global Alliance Africa is supporting Unilever to find innovative approaches to recycling plastic to help bring about a refill-reuse revolution.

Plastic is very valuable. It helps Unilever to get their products to consumers safely and efficiently. It’s often the lowest carbon footprint option compared to other materials, yet far too much plastic ends up in our environment. Global research has shown the flow of plastic into the ocean each year could triple by 2040. In line with their targets to reduce their absolute use of plastic, Unilever is seeking help to bring about a refill-reuse revolution. Unilever has launched 2 Challenges – the first to identify innovative approaches towards new circular business models for reuse and refill for informal trade such as spaza shops and dukas, the second to look at solutions for online customers.

Reuse and refill for informal trade – apply here
Reuse and refill for online customers – apply here

Download the brochure here.

Deployment Timescale for the above challenges:
• Launch of the Competition: 8th December 2021
• Deadline for applications: 28th January 2022
• Selection and notification of finalists: 14th February 2022
• Date of Pitch day: w/c 7th March 2022

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

What is Global Alliance Africa?

Global Alliance Africa is a 6-year project, funded by UK Aid, that aims to promote job creation, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through knowledge transfer, skills building and opportunities to support businesses and innovations deliver scalable impact. Through the Innovation Exchange programme we support innovation transfer by matching industry challenges to innovative companies from other sectors. We do this by putting large businesses with technical needs in contact with companies who have the right solutions for faster development of novel solutions.