Young innovators sought to tackle global challenges

Innovate UK is looking to find the best forward-thinking, entrepreneurial minds from the UK and South Africa to tackle some of the biggest problems future generations could face.

The Global Young Innovators Programme offers 60 forward-thinking, innovators a platform to join forces, ignite ideas and co-design solutions that can help solve some of the greatest challenges facing our global community.

Providing mentorship, industry leading training and the chance to pitch for £10,000 in grant funding, this bespoke 3 to 9-month programme is designed to connect and equip innovators with the resources needed to bridge the gap, and transform their early-stage ideas into a viable business.

The programme opens on January 15 with a cut-off date of 30 September, 2021.

The Five Global Challenges identified by Innovate UK:

• Low carbon – Solutions that can move South Africa towards a low-carbon economy.
• Education – Products and services which can improve education and training - make it fairer, more inclusive, accessible and equitable. 
• Infrastructure – Innovations to support the sustainable expansion of cities, rural communities and infrastructure.
• Urban & Rural Communities – Solutions which can create a positive impact on urban and rural communities, transforming them in sustainable ways whilst working to maintain their heritage and cultural access. 

• Quality Healthcare – Innovative ideas to improve the quality of healthcare provision, whether it's directly medical or healthcare equipment that is more sustainable, sanitary and/or efficient.

30 young innovators will be selected from the UK and 30 from South Africa to participate in the first phase of the programme. They will embark on a five day bootcamp and will receive expert mentoring, after which they will get the chance  to pitch to investors at a seed funding bootcamp.

The progressing 60 will take part in a 5 day pitch and seed funding bootcamp. Two initial prep days will ready the finalists ahead of their bids to secure seed funding in front of a panel of judges and investors.

Innovate UK is looking to find the best forward-thinking, entrepreneurial minds from the UK and South Africa to tackle some of the biggest problems future generations could face.

The Global Young Innovators Programme offers 60 forward-thinking, innovators a platform to join forces, ignite ideas and co-design solutions that can help solve some of the greatest challenges facing our global community.

Providing mentorship, industry leading training and the chance to pitch for £10,000 in grant funding, this bespoke 3 to 9-month programme is designed to connect and equip innovators with the resources needed to bridge the gap, and transform their early-stage ideas into a viable business.

The programme opens on January 15 with a cut-off date of 30 September, 2021.

The Five Global Challenges identified by Innovate UK:

• Low carbon – Solutions that can move South Africa towards a low-carbon economy.
• Education – Products and services which can improve education and training - make it fairer, more inclusive, accessible and equitable. 
• Infrastructure – Innovations to support the sustainable expansion of cities, rural communities and infrastructure.
• Urban & Rural Communities – Solutions which can create a positive impact on urban and rural communities, transforming them in sustainable ways whilst working to maintain their heritage and cultural access. 
• Quality Healthcare – Innovative ideas to improve the quality of healthcare provision, whether it's directly medical or healthcare equipment that is more sustainable, sanitary and/or efficient.

30 young innovators will be selected from the UK and 30 from South Africa to participate in the first phase of the programme. They will embark on a five day bootcamp and will receive expert mentoring, after which they will get the chance  to pitch to investors at a seed funding bootcamp.

The progressing 60 will take part in a 5 day pitch and seed funding bootcamp. Two initial prep days will ready the finalists ahead of their bids to secure seed funding in front of a panel of judges and investors.

Who should apply? 

• UK-based early-stage or start-up businesses
• Founders and entrepreneurs who are aged 18-30 years
• With an early-stage idea or solution to address one of the five global challenges
• Eager to collaborate with a South African Young Innovator on a joint project
• Have not received more than €200,000 in public funds over the last 3 fiscal years

For more information about the initiative email globalyounginnovators [at] newable.co.uk