The Innovation Agencies in Africa (IAA) Network has launched its first Joint Collaborative Programme (JCP1), a strategic initiative aimed at co-creating and scaling market-ready innovations across national borders to strengthen Africa’s innovation landscape.
JCP1 provides a platform for member agencies across the continent to collaboratively design, pilot, and commercialize innovative solutions in three core areas: green innovation, digital innovation and inclusive innovation. These sectors have been identified as critical to Africa’s socio-economic transformation, offering both sustainable impact and commercial potential.
Through this programme, African innovation agencies are being called to pool resources, expertise and networks to develop solutions that can be expanded beyond their countries of origin. Each project under JCP1 must aim to scale into at least one other African nation, promoting regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
According to the IAA Network, the programme is expected to:
- Stimulate cross-border entrepreneurial collaboration
- Foster job creation and inclusive economic growth
- Break down regulatory and market-entry barriers
- Create opportunities for African startups and SMEs to grow across new territories
Participating agencies will play a central role in shaping regional innovation priorities, testing solutions in diverse markets and establishing frameworks that can attract further investment and support from both public and private sectors.
The initiative aligns with broader continental goals to enhance intra-Africa trade and cooperation, as envisioned in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024–2029).
Agencies interested in participating in the programme must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by 16 July 2025 at 23:00 GMT/UTC+2. Selected projects will receive technical guidance, co-funding opportunities and access to a regional network of innovation partners.
As African entrepreneurs continue to seek pathways to scale their ideas and drive impact, JCP1 represents a powerful step forward one that places homegrown innovation at the heart of the continent’s development strategy.
