Design Innovation Seed Fund open for applications from Western Cape innovators

The Craft and Design Institute (CDI) has opened its latest call for applications for its Design Innovation Seed Fund (DISF).

Designers, inventors, entrepreneurs and product developers who are based in the Western Cape and have pre-revenue innovations can apply for grant funding of up to R800 000.

Applications close at 5pm on 17 April.

The seed fund is managed by the CDI’s CDI Capital, with investment funds provided by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

The Design Innovation Seed Fund will provide Western Cape innovators with grants of up to R800k

The seed fund is aimed at designers, inventors, entrepreneurs and product developers who have pre-revenue innovative technologies and tech-enabled ideas and products.

The CDI said applications that support innovative products and services are welcome from a wide range of sectors. These include agri-processing, biotech and health, construction, advanced manufacturing technology, ICT (information, communication technology) and software engineering (such as data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence).

Since 2014, the DISF has facilitated R17.7-million in grants to support local design innovation. In addition, the seed funding provided through CDI Capital has helped applicant businesses to secure an additional R22.5-million in funding.

In the past two years DISF contracted and is supporting seven local innovations – the grant funding has enabled these businesses to reach important development milestones and has helped them to unlock further investment from the private sector.

Applicants are encouraged to read the application guidelines prior to sending their applications. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Read more: CDI opens third call for third round of seed fund, launches R12.8m Growth Fund

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