Deadline: October 31, 2025
The British Council is inviting applications for the Ecosystem Partner for the IAU Enterprise & Innovation Challenge 2025. This is a unique opportunity to support student-led enterprises in Africa by designing and delivering a capacity-strengthening programme that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialisation.
In this post, we outline the key details of the call, eligibility requirements, funding, and how to apply.
About the IAU Enterprise & Innovation Challenge
The Innovation for African Universities (IAU) Enterprise & Innovation Challenge aims to build the entrepreneurial capacity of African university students. The programme will support 16 student teams (each comprising about five students) from universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The focus areas include:
- Digital enterprises
- Green enterprises
- Social enterprises
- Hybrid models combining the above
The student projects are at different stages of development and will benefit from expert mentorship, skills training, and tailored support to grow into sustainable ventures.
Role of the Ecosystem Partner
The selected Ecosystem Partner will be responsible for designing and delivering a programme that builds student capacity and accelerates enterprise growth. The partner will be expected to:
- Conduct a baseline assessment of each project (using SWOT or similar methods) to determine stage, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Develop tailored support frameworks for each project to help move them closer to commercialisation.
- Enhance commercialisation potential by equipping teams with the tools, methodologies, and networks needed for market readiness.
- Build student capacity with practical training, knowledge sharing, and mentorship in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Grant and Funding Information
- Maximum grant value: £60,000
- Number of awards: 1 (only one partner will be selected)
- Application deadline: 31 October 2025, 17:00 GMT
This grant will cover the full programme delivery, including student support activities, training, and project development interventions.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications must be a joint proposal between:
- A UK lead institution:
- A higher education provider with degree-awarding powers, or
- A non-profit research/education organisation, or
- A Further Education (FE) or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provider.
- A lead institution in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, or South Africa:
- A higher education provider, or
- A non-profit research/education organisation, or
- A TVET/FE provider.
The African lead institution must demonstrate capacity to administer the grant and provide a letter of support confirming this capacity.
Tips for a Strong Application
If you are considering applying, particularly from Nigeria or other eligible countries, ensure your proposal highlights the following:
- Relevant experience in supporting student enterprises, incubation, or innovation projects.
- Strong organisational capacity, including grant management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.
- Clear partnership roles between the UK and African lead institutions.
- Detailed and justified budget, showing how funds will directly support student teams and enterprise growth.
- Impact measurement strategies: demonstrate how you will track progress, outcomes, and commercialisation readiness of the projects.
Why Apply
Becoming the Ecosystem Partner for the IAU Enterprise & Innovation Challenge 2025 places your institution at the heart of enterprise and innovation growth across Africa. This is an opportunity to shape the next generation of digital, green, and social enterprises, while building international collaborations between African and UK institutions.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted before the deadline of 31 October 2025, 17:00 GMT.
Need help with your application?
Contact us for proposal drafting, refining, and review to strengthen your submission and increase your chances of success.
