Hubiquitous, an EU-Africa initiative, strives to establish a sustainable and impactful network of technology hubs in Africa with a primary focus on IoT (Internet of Things) and related technologies. The Techub Catalyst Program is designed to elevate a minimum of 10 African Tech Hubs to advanced levels in IoT and emerging technologies.
Scheduled to run from February 2024 to June 2024, the TecHub Catalyst Program aims to empower these hubs for technological innovation, skill development, and entrepreneurial growth within their respective local ecosystems. The program will concentrate on enhancing the hubs’ IoT capabilities and fostering the development of sustainable value-added services.
Key Features of the TecHub Catalyst Program:
- Empowering hubs for technological innovation, skill development, and entrepreneurial growth within their local ecosystems.
- Providing intensive IoT training to hub personnel through a “Train the Trainers” approach, combining virtual and in-person sessions. The in-person training will be conducted in Tanzania over a one-week period.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the program, TecHubs must:
- Have a physical address in an African country or be affiliated with a TecHub or entity based in any African country.
- Be legally registered with a valid certificate of registration within the respective African country.
It is crucial for hubs to carefully review the specific eligibility criteria outlined in the call for applications, as failure to meet any of the criteria will result in automatic disqualification.
Benefits for Participating Hubs:
Hubs joining the program will receive the following benefits:
- Enhanced capacity in IoT technologies through intensive “Train the Trainers” sessions.
- A comprehensive IoT hardware and software “Solution Box” to establish an IoT Lab.
- Opportunities to design new tech services for potential additional revenue streams.
- Participation in the HUBiquitous Innovation Week in Europe to showcase achievements.
- A financial contribution of up to 10,000€ to support the hubs in bootstrapping new services. This contribution can be utilized for expenses such as travel reimbursement, event organization (e.g., hackathon), and MVP costs.
Expectations from Participating Hubs:
With the provided support, the hubs are expected to deliver the following over a 5-month period:
- Nominate two experts at the hubs as trainers.
- Deploy the IoT Lab at their premises using the Solution Boxes for both training and developing MVPs.
- Conduct a short IoT certification course.
- Accelerate two innovative MVPs based on the Solution Box.
- Co-create new revenue streams based on innovative services.
- Participate in the Hubiquitous Innovation Week in Europe.
- Prepare a comprehensive report detailing their activities.
Application Process:
Interested hubs can apply for the TecHub Catalyst program by clicking on the provided link. The application deadline is Monday, January 15, 2024.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply CLICK HERE
