Plastics Innovation & Circularity Challenge 2023 for Innovators in South Africa (R175,000 prize)

The Plastics Innovation & Circularity Challenge 2023 is currently accepting applications. SOLVE@Waterfront and OceanHub Africa are requesting creative ideas to solve plastic challenges in South Africa with the help of the UK South Africa -Tech Hub, a UK Government project.

If you are headquartered in South Africa and have created a cutting-edge commercial or technology solution to problematic plastics, such as:

• Technologies/systems to increase the rate of plastic collection.
• Technologies/behavior change to facilitate the separation of waste after use or at the
  source.
• A solution to better manage low-value plastics (single-use plastics, multi-layered packaging)
  through reuse and recycling.
• Digital technology to address plastic pollution (e.g. behaviour change, reduction of the use of
  plastics, collection/sorting, recycling, tracking system).
• And any other innovation that could stop the leakage of plastic into the ocean.
• A prototype of any of the above, which you are ready to test.

Prizes:

Finalists will

• Be awarded R175,000 to further develop your innovation and business
• Be featured on the partners’ websites and their social media channels
• Have a chance to pitch in front of investors and other stakeholders during the leading
  African event on ocean-impact innovation, Ocean Innovation Africa Summit
• Automatically secure admission in OceanHub Africa’s 2023-2024 cohort, 1st Pan-African
  accelerator programme designed to support blue entrepreneurs

Runners-up will

• Be awarded R25,000 to further develop your innovation and business
• Be featured on the partners’ websites and their social media channels
• Have a chance to pitch in front of investors and other stakeholders during the leading
  African event on ocean-impact innovation, Ocean Innovation Africa Summit
• Automatically secure admission in OceanHub Africa’s 2023-2024 cohort, 1st Pan-African
  accelerator programme designed to support blue entrepreneurs

Eligibility:

You are eligible if:

• Your startup is contributing to plastic circularity;
• You are an incorporated for-profit and operate in South Africa;
• You are a scalable service or product currently or soon to be available on the market;
• Your product or service is clearly innovative and/or your business model is disruptive;
• You are looking to grow your economic, social, and environmental impact.

Selection Criteria:

Impact & vision

• How much impact will your innovation have on the plastic value chain and its
  circularity?
• How much is environmental and/or social impact embedded into South African
  context and/or part of your long-term goals?
• Potential for employment, job creation and improving working conditions in
  plastic wastes management

Business model

• Product-market fit and market potential
• Innovation approach
• Current traction and/or growth strategy
• Scalability

Technology

• IP owned
• Business built on reliable technology(ies) including both software and
• hardware
• Innovation
• Adaptability and scalability

Team

• Team size
• Team background
• Relevance of distribution of responsibilities, priorities

  Click here to apply