UNDP Africa Pan African MineTech Exploration Technology Pre Incubation Programme 2027

Applications are open for the UNDP Africa Pan African MineTech Exploration Technology Pre Incubation Programme 2027, an initiative supporting young innovators and multidisciplinary teams developing technology solutions for mining and mineral exploration challenges across Africa. The programme is led by the timbuktoo MineTech Hub in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ecosystem partners in Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The initiative aims to help students, recent graduates, researchers, engineers, technical professionals, innovators and early stage entrepreneurs turn practical mining challenges into technology based solutions. Participants will work on problems identified through country specific challenge briefs developed with government and industry stakeholders.

Applicants do not need to own an established company or have a completed product. Teams can apply with a clearly defined problem and an initial technology idea that responds to the programme’s challenge areas. The goal is to help promising ideas progress through problem validation, technical development and prototype creation, while assessing their potential to address real needs in the mining sector.

About the Opportunity

The Pan African MineTech Exploration Technology Pre Incubation Programme is part of the broader effort to encourage technology driven innovation and sustainable development in Africa’s mining industry. Through the timbuktoo MineTech Hub and participating UniPods, the initiative connects emerging innovators with technical expertise, research institutions, mining professionals and innovation support infrastructure.

The programme begins with a ten week validation and pre incubation phase. During this period, teams assess the problem they want to solve, engage potential users and investigate whether their proposed solution is technically and commercially viable.

Following the validation phase, teams may participate in a pitch and selection process. Selected teams can then receive further support to develop concepts and build low fidelity prototypes. Activities combine online workshops with practical development through participating UniPods.

Promising solutions undergo technical review with experts and industry stakeholders. Teams demonstrating strong potential may be considered for further incubation through the MineTech Hub.

Opportunity Benefits

• Technical mentorship: Guidance from experts, universities, geological institutions and mining sector practitioners.

• Industry engagement: Opportunities to validate ideas with industry stakeholders and assess whether solutions address genuine user needs.

• Prototype development support: Access to relevant innovation infrastructure, UniPods and MineTech Hub facilities for practical development.

• Entrepreneurship training: Support with business models, market validation and commercialisation planning.

• Networking opportunities: Connections with mining professionals, researchers, technology specialists, investors and innovation organisations.

• Potential seed funding: Selected teams may compete for funding to develop low fidelity prototypes and proof of concept solutions. Funding is not guaranteed to all participants.

• Further incubation opportunities: High potential teams may progress to the MineTech Hub incubation programme.

• Intellectual property guidance: Selected team leaders receive practical guidance on protecting and managing intellectual property.

Programme Areas

The programme invites technology concepts addressing challenges in mineral exploration, mining and related environmental or operational activities. Solutions may involve hardware, software or a combination of both.

Key areas include:

• Mineral exploration and geological data collection, processing and interpretation.

• Remote sensing and surveying technologies.

• Geophysical and geochemical technologies.

• Mineral identification and analysis.

• Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics.

• Technologies that improve the identification, characterisation and targeting of mineral resources.

Applicants should connect their proposed solution to a clearly identified challenge and explain how the technology could be useful in real operating conditions.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must form a multidisciplinary team that meets the following requirements:

• Each team must have between two and five members.

• All team members must be aged 18 to 35.

• Every member must be based in one of the six eligible countries: Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia or Zimbabwe.

• Team members should be students, recent graduates, researchers, engineers, technical professionals, innovators or early stage entrepreneurs.

• The team must bring complementary skills from at least two relevant disciplines.

• Relevant backgrounds may include computer science, data science, mining engineering, geomatics, software engineering and related technical fields.

• The team must identify a specific problem in mineral exploration, mining or associated environmental or operational activities.

• Applicants must have an initial technology based idea for addressing the identified problem.

• Each member’s role should be clearly defined, and the team must be willing to commit to the programme throughout its duration.

• A valid national identification document must be provided for every team member.

• Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Teams should also consider whether they can participate in online learning and attend practical development activities through the designated UniPod.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare the following information before submitting their application:

• A clearly defined mining or mineral exploration problem.

• An initial technology based idea that responds to the relevant country challenge brief.

• Details of all team members, confirming that the team meets the age and country requirements.

• The role and relevant skills of each team member.

• Valid national identification documents for all team members.

• An explanation of how the proposed solution could address the identified problem.

Applicants should consult the official application form for the complete information requested by the organisers.

Selection Criteria

The programme seeks teams with practical ideas, complementary skills and the capacity to develop solutions with real world potential. Applications and subsequent selection stages consider:

• Relevance and importance of the identified problem.

• Potential of the proposed technology to address the challenge.

• Evidence that the team understands user needs and industry requirements.

• Progress in validating the problem and assessing the business case.

• Team readiness, complementary expertise and commitment.

• Potential for the solution to create value beyond the programme.

Selected teams may be invited to pitch their concepts before further prototype development support is considered.

How to Apply

1. Review the official call: Read the UNDP programme announcement and examine the challenge briefs relevant to your country.
2. Form an eligible team: Bring together two to five members aged 18 to 35 who are all based in the same eligible country.
3. Identify a practical problem: Select a specific challenge in mineral exploration or mining and develop an initial technology based idea to address it.
4. Prepare your application: Gather team information, define individual responsibilities and prepare valid national identification documents for every member.
5. Submit the online application: Complete the official application form with the requested information before the deadline.
6. Prepare for the programme stages: If selected to continue, be ready to validate the problem, engage potential users, develop the business case and participate in technical workshops or prototype development.