Call has ended!
Do you have a research idea, experiences and connections for creating business in developing markets? Are you developing a consortium at your educational institution or research organization showing high potential for company involvement? Business Finland Developing Markets Platform (DevPlat) has teamed up with Finnpartnership to offer a new funding pathway for either kick-starting or further developing the consortium.
Aim of the call
Business Finland and Finnpartnership offer complementary funding services to facilitate company-oriented consortia and to stimulate collaborations between Finnish and local partners in developing markets.
The aim of this call is to engage and fund research organizations for the development of broader company-oriented consortia, involving also local partners from developing markets and NGOs if relevant. The call targets research groups who already have competences and networks in developing markets with connections in, and experience of, specific developing markets. We also to stimulate the development of new solutions sustainable development goals.
The call targets the following developing markets that are at the focus of DevPlat, also other so-called ODA-countries are possible:
- Eastern Africa, especially Kenya
- Southern Africa, especially South Africa
- South-East Asia, especially Vietnam
Eligible projects
Through the call Business Finland funds consortia preparation work that facilitates the formation of consortia comprising of research organisations, Finnish companies and local partners in the target countries to support new market entries. The work should be based on research ideas for solutions or business models, aligned with sustainable development goals, that could be piloted and scaled in the markets.
Applicants can be Finnish research organizations or universities of applied sciences, Finnish companies can join the projects through other regular Business Finland funding.
The research ideas and their relevance from the viewpoint of companies and broader consortia will be evaluated based on funding criteria of Co-creation funding services.
In addition, applications will be evaluated through the following funding criteria:
- The networks and competences of applicants related to developing markets, e.g. through previous projects
- The alignment of the research idea and envisioned solutions with the aims and focus countries of DevPlat, including other ODA countries
- The alignment of the research idea and envisioned solutions with 1-2 sustainable development goals as defined by the UN
- The alignment of the research idea and envisioned solutions with areas of competitive strength of Finland, especially bio and circular economy, renewable energy, health and digital solutions
Applying for funding
Basic information on the applicant and application should be submitted through the Business Finland online service.
- Research organizations: “Co-creation”
- Indicate in “Programs and other links” that the application relates to the Developing Markets Platform
Timetable
Funded projects should have a duration of 4-6 months and the total budget can be maximum EUR100 000, of which we can fund 60 %.
The deadline for applications is May 16th, 2022 (8.30-9.30).
Please find below links to the slides presented at the kick-off webinar on 16 March, 2022:
- Aims, criteria and next steps for the funding call (pdf)
- Beyond co-creation funding option in collaboration with Finnpartnership (pdf)
