Horizon 2020 - ICT-39-2017 Call for Innovation Actions focused on sub-Saharan African end-user community needs Closes 25 April
12 April 2017
Over the past twelve months IST-Africa has raised awareness of the Horizon 2020 ICT-39-2017 call which is focused on research cooperation between Europe and Africa with a focus on addressing end-user requirements in sub-Saharan African countries through Innovation Actions.
IST-Africa organised a series of training workshops during October - December 2016:
- 26 October 2016, NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek, Namibia (organised by National Commission on Research Science and Technology, Namibia). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 31 October 2016, National University of Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho (organised by Department of Science and Technology, Lesotho). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 02 November 2016, University of Swaziland (Luyengo Campus), Swaziland (organised by Ministry of ICT, Swaziland). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 10 November 2016, Moi University Nairobi Campus, Bazaar Building, Nairobi (organised by Ministry of Education Science and Technology). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 14 November 2016, COSTECH, Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, Kijitonyama, Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (organised by COSTECH). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 17 November 2016, Travel Lodge (Plot 28295, Block 3), Gaborone, Botswana (organised by Ministry of Transport and Communications, Botswana). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 21 November 2016, Hilton, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (organised by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ethiopia). Download Agenda
- 28 November 2016, Sunbird Lilongwe Hotel, Malawi (organised by National Commission for Science and Technology, Malawi), Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 09 December 2016, Casa Miltu Hotel, Plot 137/139 Ntinda Road, Kampala, Uganda (organised by UNCST). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 09 December 2016, National Advanced School of Engineering Polytechnic Yaounde, Cameroon (organised by ANTIC). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
- 14 December 2016, Ebene Cybertower, Mauritius (organised by National Computer Board). Download Agenda and H2020 Workshop Report
IST-Africa has provided support in identifying relevant thematic areas and potential partners for inclusion in cross-border validation.
FOCUS OF CALL
The Horizon 2020 ICT-39-2017 call is focused on research cooperation between Europe and Africa with a focus on addressing end-user requirements in sub-Saharan African countries through Innovation Actions.
Innovation Actions are focused on technological improvements/adaptations as well as innovative service creation based on existing technologies. Activities should be led by a clearly defined user need/market opportunity for the technology being adapted based on requirements of sub-Saharan African countries. It is therefore necessary to identify a project focus that is relevant in a number of countries from the same region with a sustainability plan for wider roll out following successful validation and project funding.
Proposals should feature an explicit element exploring technology adoption, through understanding and evaluating behavioural responses to the introduction of new technologies in different regional settings. Societal and gender issues will be taken into account.
Based on the focus of this call it will be necessary to ensure that there are multidisciplinary teams - thematic experts in the target domain as well as ICT experts. Based on a number of African countries being involved, it is also necessary to co-design a proposal that addresses a common challenge at national level, that can be validated in a number of scenarios in the different countries.
Innovation Actions have limited research and development related to adaptation of existing technology. It is expected that any research related to the challenge to be addressed and understanding of the state of the art in the thematic area is already undertaken and demonstrated in the proposal submitted. Since demonstration and market validation is the primary focus of an Innovation Action, the consortium must demonstrate relevant links with end-user communities who will be involved in the validation process and this needs to be clearly demonstrated in the proposal submitted.
EXPECTED IMPACT
- Development/adaptation of relevant technologies responding to specific needs of target countries;
- Sustainable uptake of results beyond project completion date;
- Reinforced international cooperation on ICT R&D with low and middle income countries, focussing on areas that are beneficial to the target countries/regions.
CONSORTIA REQUIREMENTS
Horizon 2020 proposals are submitted by a consortia which brings together necessary complementary expertise to address the project focus from Africa and Europe. It is a requirement of the funding instrument that there are 3 European partners from different Member States in addition to the relevant African partners.
FUNDING MODEL
Horizon 2020 projects are based on a grant with reimbursement of actual costs (personnel rates from payroll, necessary equipment and travel). Innovation Actions reimburse eligible direct costs (personnel, travel etc) at a rate of 70% (except for non-profit legal entities including public universities where a rate of 100% reimbursement applies) plus a flat rate of 25% to cover indirect costs.
Given the primary focus on demonstration and market validation, Innovation Actions are typically 18 - 24 months in duration. The total funding available per proposal is between 1 - 2 million euro to cover all activities and partners. It is necessary to keep this in mind while considering the scale of the activities.
SUPPORT MATERIALS
IST-Africa has prepared a number of support documents, which we recommend that you download:
This guide to Horizon 2020 is designed to support newcomers to Horizon 2020 to better understand the structure, rules and expectations. Chapter 1 provides a short introduction to Horizon 2020, the role of International Cooperation including insights into African participation under FP7 and Horizon 2020 to date and summarises the key differences between FP7 and Horizon 2020. Chapter 2 provides more details in relation to Research Areas, Participation Rules, Funding Instruments and African participation under initial calls of Horizon 2020. Chapter 3 provides insights into a number of preparatory steps that need to be considered prior to preparing a proposal for submission under Horizon 2020. These include identification of relevant research areas and calls, identification of complementary partners and correct funding instrument.
IST-Africa Report on ICT Initiatives and Research Capacity in IST-Africa partner countries
This report provides an overview of the current ICT Initiatives, Research Capacity, mapping of thematic priorities and research capacity in the context of the ICT-39 H2020 Call and updated mapping of research priorities under Horizon 2020 in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda as at January 2016. ISBN No: 978-1-905824-47-2. This is a valuable reference report to assist in identifying partners for inclusion in ICT-39 Proposals.
IST-Africa Paper Repository provides access to research papers published in IST-Africa Conference Proceedings since 2006 including contact details for researchers
http://www.ist-africa.org/home/default.asp?page=paper-repository