The core network of EiA Champions has been established and expanded, supported by the development of an application process and outreach campaigns. The EiA Center, based in Cape Town, has been founded as a sustainable, commercially oriented business, ensuring the continuation of the network and services piloted during the project. Staff members have been hired, and a governance structure put in place to oversee operations.
Research on the innovation landscape in Africa has been conducted, resulting in the report ‘Investing for Innovation in Africa,’ which provides an overview of the African ecosystem, including policy structures, investments, and startup landscapes. It was made available via several distribution platforms.
Concerning support to innovators, a unified methodology to implement advisory services was developed, with the yearly KPI of 50 advisories met or exceeded each year. Innovators were identified, connected, and activated in their local regions, with the EiA Center staff briefed to continue onboarding new innovators. Quality soft-landing services, incubation, and acceleration support were successfully implemented, with an impact measurement framework developed to evaluate and assure quality.
For incubators and accelerators, capacity building materials were provided and a learning journey developed, including bootcamp sessions and the virtual academy. Through the twinning programme, EU and African incubators and accelerators were paired to promote collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, a mentoring programme offered further support to Champions. Network members had the opportunity to meet during three Champions Gatherings organised in the frame of the EiA Congress events.
To promote the project and the Center, a dissemination, communication, and outreach plan was drafted, updated, and followed throughout the project. A branding kit and promotional materials were developed, incl. a project brochure, flyers, a roll-up, and newsletter templates. Over 20 newsletters were sent out internally within the EiA network and externally. Social media accounts were set up and updated to inform about project activities and engage with other initiatives. Two videos were created: an inspirational video and an explainer video highlighting the EiA Center platform's functionalities.
Each year, the EiA Annual Congress was organised: in Cape Town in 2021, following the AfricArena Grand Summit; in Nairobi in 2022, following the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Stakeholder Event; and in Brussels in 2023, marking the handover to the EiA Center. Additionally, partners represented EiA at numerous ecosystem events, incl. the AU-EU Innovation Festival.
Online presence was established through the project page (
https://enrich-in-africa-project.eu/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) and the EiA Center website (
https://www.enrichinafrica.com/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) which serves as a digital hub for the EiA network, including the Champions application process, a digital marketplace, and other features to engage the community. The EiA Community on EuroQuity was also set up, with over 500 members by project end.
5 Open Innovation Challenges aligned with the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and sponsored by United.b EDF, Sanofi, Sothema and L’Oréal were implemented, attracting a total of 1372 participants. The final pitching sessions were held at the AU-EU Innovation Festival in Cape Town.
