The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has invited expressions of interest from eligible not‑for‑profit organisations to lead a three‑year programme aimed at strengthening science, technology and innovation (ST&I) systems in Southern Africa. The initiative, called the Science and Technology Accelerator – Systems (STA‑S) Southern Africa, has a total budget of £2.5 million, with up to £400,000 available in the first year.
Why the programme matters for South Africa
The STA‑S Southern Africa programme is designed to tackle systemic barriers that limit the impact of research and technology on economic and social development. Rather than funding individual research projects or start‑ups, the FCDO says the programme will focus on the structures that enable innovation to scale — policy, institutions, partnerships, financing mechanisms and market pathways.
Activities will work primarily with South Africa, with targeted support in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the first year. The call for expressions of interest closes on 26‑Aug‑2026, and the FCDO expects lead organisations to form consortia capable of delivering across multiple areas of systems strengthening.
What the fund will target
The STA‑S programme sets out several intended outcomes, which the FCDO highlights as priorities for any prospective consortium:
- Strengthening innovation ecosystems to make them more resilient and effective;
- Improving policy and regulatory environments so that science and technology can more readily support development goals;
- Supporting inclusive innovation to ensure benefits reach diverse groups and not only established players;
- Strengthening institutional and partnership arrangements that link universities, industry, government and funders;
- Improving research commercialisation and research‑to‑market pathways so discoveries can translate into viable products and services;
- Supporting entrepreneurship to boost the pipeline of firms that can scale.
The FCDO frames the programme as a response to longstanding weaknesses in many innovation systems: fragmented institutions, limited financing options, gaps between research and market, and insufficient collaboration across sectors. By addressing these structural issues, the fund aims to increase the impact of science and technology on productivity, employment and social resilience.
Who should apply and what to expect
Eligible applicants are not‑for‑profit organisations capable of leading a consortium. The lead organisation will need to demonstrate experience in systems‑level interventions — for example, policy reform, institutional strengthening or research commercialisation — and the ability to coordinate partners across the region.
The programme is explicitly designed to be system‑focused rather than project‑centric. That means successful consortia will be expected to work across multiple stakeholders and create durable changes in how innovation is funded, governed and brought to market.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total programme budget | £2.5 million |
| Available in year one | Up to £400,000 |
Prospective applicants should note the regional focus. While South Africa is the primary country of work, the FCDO expects activity in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the initial year, signalling a cross‑border approach to strengthening systems that underpin innovation.
For South Africa, the STA‑S programme offers a potential boost to policy work, technology transfer mechanisms and entrepreneurship support. If structured well, systems interventions can reduce barriers that currently prevent research from translating into jobs and commercial opportunities.
Organisations interested in leading a consortium must submit expressions of interest by the deadline. The FCDO will use those submissions to select a lead partner to implement the three‑year programme.
For practitioners and policymakers in South Africa’s science and technology sector, the fund is a reminder that international development partners are continuing to invest in systems‑level work alongside more visible project funding. Success will depend on forging credible local partnerships and demonstrating a realistic route from policy and institutional change to measurable market outcomes.
