Strengthening Innovation and Entrepreneurship in African HEIs
A free program from the African Development Bank's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, delivered in partnership with EyeCity Africa, helping African higher education institutions and research centres build or strengthen their incubators, hubs and technology transfer offices. Open to institutions at every stage.
Application deadline: 3 November 2026
About the program
Turning talent and research into enterprise
Incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs and technology transfer offices turn campus talent and research into ventures. This program equips African institutions with the models, tools, peer networks and hands-on support to build or strengthen them.
Open at every stage
No existing incubator or hub needed. Institutions starting from scratch are welcome.
Practical and free
Training, toolkits and peer learning at no cost to your institution.
Pan-African and bilingual
Open to applicants from all African countries, in English and French.
At no cost to your institution
What selected institutions receive
Extensive training modules
Practical online training in governance, operations, funding, partnerships and sustainability.
Ready-to-use toolkits
Frameworks and tools your team can apply immediately.
A continental peer network
Onboarding onto the Bank's ENNOVA platform and a growing community of institutions across Africa.
The Deep Dive
Select institutions receive tailored, hands-on support to develop an innovation and entrepreneurship strategy.
From the first phase
What participants say
“The discussions on how higher education institutions can drive entrepreneurship were especially insightful, and the strategies for strengthening collaboration between institutions were practical and actionable. I was also struck by the role community networks play in building a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs, and the interactive sessions made it easy to learn from fellow participants’ experiences.”
“I learnt the approach, structure and curriculum design needed to deliver more effective entrepreneurship interventions within my ecosystem.”
“We learned what Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) are, the different models, and how to set one up. Through a case study of ASHESI, we then worked step by step through how to design programmes that truly support entrepreneurs.”
Who should apply
Setting up enterprise support for the first time
Strengthening the enterprise support you already run
What you need to apply
Leadership backing
A letter from your institutional head stating your commitment to the program and further enterprise support initiatives.
Staff time
Able to commit between 12 and 16 hours over a three-week period.
Women and youth
A commitment to women and youth participation.
Also have ready: your institution's details and the current stage of your enterprise support unit.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Start Group is for institutions setting up enterprise support for the first time.
No. The program is free of charge.
Yes. Applications can be submitted in English or French.
Applications are assessed on merit, and the final cohort is balanced across the continent.
Applications close on 3 November 2026. We encourage you to apply early.
Applications are open
Ready to build or strengthen your institution's enterprise support unit?
Application deadline: 3 November 2026