Pan-African MineTech Exploration Technology Pre-Incubation Programme 2026

About

A 10-week challenge-led pre-incubation programme for multidisciplinary teams aged 18–35 based in Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia or Zimbabwe to validate and prototype mining exploration technologies, with technical mentorship, industry validation and possible seed funding.

Benefits

• Guaranteed for selected teams: technical mentorship from experts, universities, geological institutions and mining sector practitioners; industry engagement and validation; prototype development support through UniPods, MineTech Hub facilities and relevant innovation infrastructure; entrepreneurship and venture readiness support, including business models, market validation and routes to commercialisation; networking with mining stakeholders, researchers, technology experts, investors and innovation organisations; selected team leaders receive practical guidance on protecting and managing intellectual property. Conditional: selected teams may compete for seed funding to build low-fidelity prototypes and proof-of-concept solutions; high-potential teams may progress to MineTech Hub incubation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: multidisciplinary teams of 2–5 members; all members aged 18–35; all members based in the same eligible country (Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia or Zimbabwe) so the team can work together at the dedicated UniPod; team members should be students, recent graduates, researchers, engineers, technical professionals, innovators or early-stage entrepreneurs; complementary skills across at least two relevant disciplines, including technical expertise such as Computer Science, Data Science, Mining Engineering, Geomatics or Software Engineering and other similar disciplines; a clearly identified problem in mineral exploration, mining or related environmental or operational activities and an initial technology-based idea to address it; defined role for each team member and commitment to the programme throughout; valid national ID for each team member. Preferred: female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Participation Commitments

• Selected teams must commit to the programme throughout and define each member’s role. Teams are required to use the UniPods for hands-on prototyping and development of their solutions. The programme is delivered in a hybrid format with online workshop sessions covering technical subjects and business development services.

Target Region

Teams of 2–5 members must all be based in the same eligible country: Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia or Zimbabwe. The team must be able to work together at the dedicated UniPod in that country. Applications are not open to teams based outside these countries.

Target Sector

Other