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

• 🧑‍🔬 Technical Mentorship
  Guaranteed for selected teams: Technical mentorship from experts, universities, geological institutions, and mining sector practitioners
• 🤝Industry Engagement and Validation
  Guaranteed for selected teams: Industry engagement and validation to assess the relevance and applicability of proposed solutions to mining-sector needs
• 🛠️ Prototype Development Support
  Guaranteed for selected teams: Prototype development support through UniPods, MineTech Hub facilities, and relevant innovation infrastructure
• 📈Entrepreneurship and Venture Readiness
  Guaranteed for selected teams: Support with business model development, market validation, and routes to commercialisation
• 🌐Networking Opportunities
  Guaranteed for selected teams: Networking with mining stakeholders, researchers, technology experts, investors, and innovation organisations
• 🔒Intellectual Property Guidance
  Guaranteed for selected team leaders: Practical guidance on protecting and managing intellectual property
• 💰Seed Funding Competition
  Conditional: Selected teams may compete for seed funding to develop low-fidelity prototypes and proof-of-concept solutions
• 🚀MineTech Hub Incubation
  Conditional: High-potential teams may progress to incubation at MineTech Hub

Eligibility Criteria

• 👥 Team Composition
• Mandatory: Multidisciplinary teams of 2–5 members, with all members aged 18–35
• 🌍 Geographic Eligibility
• Mandatory: All team members must be based in the same eligible country—Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, or Zimbabwe—so the team can work together at the dedicated UniPod
• 🎓 Applicant Background
• Mandatory: Team members should be students, recent graduates, researchers, engineers, technical professionals, innovators, or early-stage entrepreneurs
• 🧠 Complementary Skills
• Mandatory: Teams must have complementary skills across at least two relevant disciplines, including technical expertise such as Computer Science, Data Science, Mining Engineering, Geomatics, Software Engineering, or similar disciplines
• ⛏️ Problem and Technology-Based Idea
• Mandatory: Teams must identify a clear problem in mineral exploration, mining, or related environmental or operational activities and propose an initial technology-based idea to address it
• 📋 Roles and Commitment
• Mandatory: Each team member must have a defined role and commit to participating in the programme throughout its duration
• 🪪 Identification Documents
• Mandatory: Every team member must have a valid national identity document
• ♀️ Female Participation
• 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 Sector

Other

Target Location

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.