This booklet has been developed in the framework of the capacity upgrading activities delivered as part of the “Support to EU-Africa Innovation Cooperation” project financed by the European Commission. The project intends to connect the technology and innovation ecosystems in Africa and Europe in order to align disruptive innovation creating better opportunities of growth and scale-up for entrepreneurial ecosystems on both continents.

A number of capacity upgrading sessions are developed as part of the project in light of enhancing the abilities of the African start-up and entrepreneurial eco-system to engage in collaborative activities with their EU counterparts. Capacity upgrading activities are also meant to strengthen the African innovation eco-systems on the basis of mutual exchange and learning with European counterparts. The first training module specifically looks at the landscape of EU funding opportunities specifically designed to support the strengthening of African incubators/accelerators, start-ups and entrepreneurs.

This evaluation examined the support the European Commission’s DG for Development and International Cooperation (DEVCO) provided to Research and Innovation (R&I) in partner countries during the last EU budget period (2007-2013). During these years DEVCO did not have an explicit policy document to support R&I and yet the study identified programmes worth over EUR 1 billion that included some aspect of R&I work. The evaluation looked at four specific sectors and found that within these sectors there was considerable interest in R&I and that such elements were often included in support programmes under each one.

At its fourth edition, this report provides an analysis of recent development in the African banking sectors and specific structural topics of relevance. It combines in house research with contribution from leading market experts from commercial banks operating in the region, IFIs and other institutions.

The Africa Investment Facility (AfIF), set-up in 2015, is the newest of the EU’s regional blending facilities. The blending facilities are innovative financial instruments that use EU development grants to leverage additional funding from European and regional development financial institutions and the private sector. They help implement key infrastructure and private sector support projects that are critical to sustainable development in partner countries worldwide.

AfIF, which is funded mainly from different programmes under the European Development Fund (EDF), but also under the EU's Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), provides various kinds of grant funding for development projects:

Find out the number of participants from Africa in Horizon 2020 programmes and their success stories in this infographic.

To be able to apply to a European program, your project must be organised and carried out with partners.  Once you have identified a certain number of potentially interesting partners, it is useful to have various exchanges by telephone to introduce your organisation and present your project in order to help you find the most receptive partners.

Throughout these early exchanges, you will want to gather as much information as possible: size of organisation, contact person who would be appointed project manager, technical expertise, motivation of your contact, etc...

To help you to make your final choice, create a partner profile for each organisation contacted. In a second step, you will forward your project outline to the most interested potential partners and the most strategic for your organisation, whilst explaining the role of coordinator and partner.

All professional organisations of the public, voluntary, and private sectors are eligible for a European grant. As a start-up, there are several suitable European funding programmes. Setting up a specific approach and taking the time to analyse the calls precisely will help you identify the right opportunity and verify your organisation's eligibility.

Before submitting a financial application to Community institutions, you must be in a position to design a well-structured pre-project.

Designing a « project sheet » shall help you to:

The report details the Facility’s operational activities in 2016 and provides a comprehensive overview of the 16 projects funded. In 2016, AfIF provided a total of over  288 million in contributions to important infrastructure projects across Africa.
 

Validation LEAR appointment form:

This document will be automatically generated by the Participant Register once all the information required for the LEAR appointment will have been filled in. You should print it on the organisation’s letter headed paper, have it signed by the legal representative and the LEAR and then upload it in the Participant

 

Validation LEAR appointment form:

This document should be printed on the organisation’s letter-headed paper, signed by the legal representative and uploaded in the Participant Register with the financial documents. Originals should be kept on file for controls.
 

Validation LEAR appointment form:

This document will be automatically generated by the Participant Register once all the information required for the LEAR appointment will have been filled in
 

This document is aimed at informing potential applicants for Horizon 2020 funding. It serves only as an example. The actual Web forms and templates, provided in the online proposal submission system under the Participant Portal, might differ from this example.

Time recording for Horizon 2020 Action 

Project Reporting template: 

This document is aimed at informing potential applicants for Horizon 2020 funding. It serves only as an example. The actual Web forms and templates, provided in the online reporting system under the Participant Portal, might differ from this example. Periodic and final reports must be prepared and submitted via the online reporting system under the Participant Portal.
 

Project reporting template:

This Horizon 2020 Data Management Plan template has been designed to be applicable to any Horizon 2020 project that produces, collects or processes research data.

Grant agreement preparation template: 

To be downloaded and filled by the linked third party. 

One of the Audit documents:

Required supporting documents before and during the audit

One of the Audit templates: Annex II to the letter of Announcement 

The template is to be only used when requested by the CAS in the context of a H2020 audit. It constitutes Annex III to the letter officially announcing the audit to the Beneficiary.

This document throws more light on the 3 priorities of the H2020 programme related to Excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. 

Provides information on Sections III.5, III.6, IV.1 & IV.2 on how to submit a proposal; admissibility and eligibility checks; evaluation of proposals and operational capacity check; Grant Preparation. 

ERC rules for submission & Evaluation 

 Guidance on List of issues applicable to particular countries including the country, type of issue, and response to the issue

The AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement is a user guide that aims to explain to applicants and beneficiaries the General Model Grant Agreement (General MGA) and the different specific Model Grant Agreements (‘Specific MGAs’) for the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for 2014-2020 (H2020)
 

Toolkit for Business Incubators in developing countries and training materials consisting of the following modules: 

1. Business Incubation Definitions and Principles 
2. Planning an Incubator
3. Marketing and Stakeholder Management
4. Financing an Incubator
5. Managing the Incubator
6. Monitoring, Evaluation and Benchmarking
7. Implementing a Mentoring Program
8. Deals and Financing for the Incubator Clients 
9. Technology Commercialization Through Incubation
10. Setting up Virtual Services
11. Agribusiness Incubation 

Analysis of the business incubator and their ecosystem. 

Report concerning promotion of best practices for business incubators in growing new businesses. In particular, the report analyses which activities and services are of most added-value to startups. 

One of the main deliverable of the Cleantech Incubation Europe (CIE) INTERREG IVC project is this handbook aiming to share best practices from the incubation of cleantech start-ups across Europe to foster entrepreneurship and the green economy. 

Start-up Guide for Incubator Developers detailing issues faced by SMEs, reasons for business incubation and various models for business incubators.

OECD Innovation Policy Handbook Chapter outlining key issues for technology incubators, target groups, success/ risk factors and evaluation criteria.