Application: R&D Projects

As part of Microsoft South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment initiative, the company is launching its third Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) to support the growth of black-owned and black women-owned SMMEs, stimulate job creation, and prepare South Africa for the future of AI. Over the next decade, the programme aims to empower nearly 250 SMMEs and startups by providing them with essential digital tools and skills for growth. Additionally, it seeks to equip around 50,000 TVET college students with relevant digital skills and tools, and to train over 2,000 young individuals in advanced AI skills crucial for employability. Furthermore, Microsoft South Africa’s EEIP will support up to 20 advanced research and development projects that address the nation’s current and future policy needs in critical areas such as Cyber Security and AI.

The R&D Investment Area will fund a series of bespoke Research and Development Projects through the EEIP Programme period. Candidate projects for funding may be wide-ranging, but should include a technology element, for example AI, Cybersecurity, Data science and so on. The subject matter of the project may be technology based, such as policy research into AI, or may simply require the use of advanced technology to deliver the project.

A substantial portion of the output of candidate research projects should be IP which can be made generally available for the betterment of the country, and with consideration of the ability of black-owned SMMEs to benefit where this is feasible.

We invite interested Research Institutions which feel they have suitable candidate research projects either currently running or in planning to apply to this initiative. Please fill in the form below to register.