Science and Technology Accelerator – Systems (STA-S) Southern Africa programme
The STA-S Southern Africa programme by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funds system-level research to strengthen science, technology, and innovation ecosystems in Southern Africa.
Funder: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Due Dates: August 26, 2026 (Expression of Interest) | October 2, 2026 (Full Proposal)
Funding Amounts: Up to £2.5 million total; up to £400,000 available for the first year; project duration through March 2030.
Summary: A three-year initiative to strengthen science, technology, and innovation ecosystems for inclusive development in Southern Africa, focusing on system-level change and UK–regional partnerships.
Key Information: Lead applicant must be a not-for-profit; multi-partner consortia required; ODA eligibility applies.
Description
The Science and Technology Accelerator – Systems (STA-S) Southern Africa programme is a major funding opportunity from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Its goal is to catalyze system-level improvements in science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) ecosystems across Southern Africa, initially focusing on South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, with potential for expansion. The programme supports inclusive economic growth and development by addressing barriers that prevent scientific and technological advancements from achieving real-world, scalable impact.
The STA-S programme is built around two interconnected components:
- ST&I Policy, Partnerships, and Enabling Systems: Strengthening policy, regulatory, institutional, and partnership frameworks to enable effective, responsible, and inclusive ST&I systems.
- Inclusive Innovation, Research Commercialisation, and Entrepreneurship: Enhancing systems and pathways for translating research and innovation into market applications and development outcomes, with an emphasis on inclusion and scalability.
Key thematic areas include artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital inclusion, climate and energy, health, and space. Proposals must demonstrate how interventions will drive system-level change, foster UK–Southern Africa partnerships, and promote sustainable, inclusive innovation.
