Call for Applications – Western Cape Cleantech Innovation Challenge (NCIC)

The Western Cape stands at the forefront of South Africa’s renewable energy transition, with strong wind corridors, high solar irradiance, established agri-processing value chains, and growing pressure on grid resilience. TIA through its NCIC Program invites innovators to submit pilot-ready, scalable solutions that integrate solar, wind, and biomass systems, optimise energy efficiency, and strengthen decentralised energy infrastructure across the urban and rural contexts.

We are seeking technically validated solutions with clear pathways to implementation within Western Cape Municipalities, Industrial zones, ports, and agricultural systems.

Proposals must demonstrate commercial viability, measurable impact, and readiness for piloting. We are not looking for early-stage concepts, research-only ideas, or untested technologies without a clear deployment pathway.

Successful applicants can access between R1m–R15m in pilot funding, with up to R160m in blended follow-on capital being raised to support scale.

Applications are now open
Apply here: https://ncic-sa.org⁠

TIACleantech

GCIP-SA

RenewableEnergy

Innovation

WesternCape #EnergyTransition #Entrepreneurship

NCIC

StartUpCultureWesternCape

GreenEconomy

www.asher-group.co.za

Closing date: 1 April 2026

Official Announcement: 4IRI Partners with NCIC, TIA and the Department of Science and Technology

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
South African National Cleantech Innovation Challenge (NCIC) 2026

The South African National Cleantech Innovation Challenge (NCIC) 2026 was officially launched on 5 February 2026 and is now open for applications.

NCIC is South Africa’s flagship platform for identifying, testing, and scaling high-impact cleantech solutions that respond to the South Africas most pressing environmental, economic, and industrial challenges while positioning locally developed innovations for continental and global relevance.

Call for Applications

We invite innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, startups, and solution developers working across the cleantech value chain to apply.

NCIC 2026 at a glance:

9 Provinces | 9 Strategic Cleantech Challenges
Solution and Business model pilots with real-world implementation
Up to R15 million in Seed Investment and Technical Assistance for high-potential solutions
Up to R160 million in impact and follow-on funding for scalable proof-of-concepts
Pathways to regionsal, national deployment and international market access

What NCIC Offers

A structured, challenge-driven innovation framework
Access to industry, public sector, and investment partners
Technical, commercial, and regulatory support
Pilot opportunities aligned to real market demand
A clear pipeline from proof-of-concept to scale

Who Should Apply

Early-stage and growth-stage cleantech ventures
University spin-outs and research-led innovations
Engineers, technologists, and applied researchers
Entrepreneurs developing solutions in energy, water, food systems, mobility, waste, climate resilience, green materials, and related fields

Strategic Intent
NCIC is designed to:

De-risk early-stage cleantech innovation
Accelerate commercially viable climate solutions
Strengthen South Africa’s cleantech entrepreneur pipeline
Contribute meaningfully to Africa’s just and inclusive transition

Applications are now open – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EZP_cxNdpFPnnGjINVkZF9gyG_rzsi42/view?usp=drivesdk

Innovators with scalable, high-impact cleantech solutions are encouraged to apply and be part of a national platform shaping the future of sustainable industry and climate resilience.

Build locally | Scale globally |Solve real problems.

Clean Tech challenge contact details for Western Cape region: sidney@4iri.co.za
Office number: (010) 109-1769