The Plastics Innovation and Circularity Challenge 2023 is now accepting applications. SOLVE@Waterfront and OceanHub Africa are looking for innovative solutions to South Africa’s plastic issues with the help of the UK South Africa -Tech Hub, a UK Government project.
If you are based in South Africa and have created an innovative business/technological solution to a problem issue, such as:
- Technologies/systems to increase the rate of plastic collection.
- Technologies/behavior change to facilitate the separation of waste after use or at the source.
- A solution to better manage low-value plastics (single-use plastics, multi-layered packaging) through reuse and recycling.
- Digital technology to address plastic pollution (e.g. behaviour change, reduction of the use of plastics, collection/sorting, recycling, tracking system).
- And any other innovation that could stop the leakage of plastic into the ocean.
- A prototype of any of the above, which you are ready to test.
Plastics Innovation and Circularity Challenge 2023 Prizes
Finalists will
- Be awarded R175,000 to further develop your innovation and business
- Be featured on the partners’ websites and their social media channels
- Have a chance to pitch in front of investors and other stakeholders during the leading African event on ocean-impact innovation, Ocean Innovation Africa Summit
- Automatically secure admission in OceanHub Africa’s 2023-2024 cohort, 1st Pan-African accelerator programme designed to support blue entrepreneurs
Runners-up will
- Be awarded R25,000 to further develop your innovation and business
- Be featured on the partners’ websites and their social media channels
- Have a chance to pitch in front of investors and other stakeholders during the leading African event on ocean-impact innovation, Ocean Innovation Africa Summit
- Automatically secure admission in OceanHub Africa’s 2023-2024 cohort, 1st Pan-African accelerator programme designed to support blue entrepreneurs
Eligibility for the Plastics Innovation and Circularity Challenge 2023
You are eligible if
- Your startup is contributing to plastic circularity;
- You are an incorporated for-profit and operate in South Africa;
- You are a scalable service or product currently or soon to be available on the market;
- Your product or service is clearly innovative and/or your business model is disruptive;
- You are looking to grow your economic, social, and environmental impact.
Plastics Innovation and Circularity Challenge 2023 Selection Criteria
- Impact & vision
- How much impact will your innovation have on the plastic value chain and its circularity?
- How much is environmental and/or social impact embedded into South African context and/or part of your long-term goals?
- Potential for employment, job creation and improving working conditions in plastic wastes management
- Business model
- Product-market fit and market potential
- Innovation approach
- Current traction and/or growth strategy
- Scalability
- Technology
- IP owned
- Business built on reliable technology(ies) including both software and hardware
- Innovation
- Adaptability and scalability
- Team
- Team size
- Team background
- Relevance of distribution of responsibilities, priorities
Apply here
For more information, visit Plastics Innovation & Circularity Challenge.
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