The Climate Innovation Centre South Africa (CICSA) is a strategic Green Economy initiative of The Innovation Hub Management Company (TIHMC). TIHMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (“GGDA”), and was established by the Gauteng Provincial Government through its Department of Economic Development (DED) to operate as a science and technology park (The Innovation Hub) that promotes socio-economic development and competitiveness of the province through innovation.

The CICSA was established in partnership with the World Bank’s infoDev unit and is part of a global network of 6 other Climate Innovation Centres that are managed and supported by infoDev’s Climate Technology Program. The CICSA was created to help implement Gauteng’s Green Growth Strategy, which in turn echoes national strategies that increasingly see the importance of a green agenda for South Africa.

The CICSA operates as a technology and business incubator dedicated to supporting South African start-ups and small businesses operating in the green economy space by offering them access to finance, technical and business advisory, facilities, information, and markets. Through our support, entrepreneurs are better able to profitably develop, commercialize, and scale-up their innovative clean technology ideas and concepts, creating jobs and accelerating a greener and more inclusive economic development in the process.

Incubation Services:

Access to Finance:

The CICSA will provide climate technology SMEs with access to highly flexible, stage appropriate risk capital. Investment will be accessible at all stages of innovation; however, resources will be concentrated in the early growth stage through grant, seed and scale-up financing. For more advanced firms, the CICSA can act as an investment facilitator when necessary. The main aim for CICSA financing will be to speed up the technology commercialization process.
However, the CIC must also strike a balance between social inclusion, policy alignment, environmental impact and economic benefit.

Access to Facilities:

Access to modern equipment and facilities will help to accelerate prototyping, testing and proof of concept for innovators and entrepreneurs. At varying degrees of subsidization, the CICSA will offer access to office space and technical laboratories where SMEs can benefit from cost sharing and cross-pollination of ideas. To fully leverage the potential of CICSA’s global network, these facilities will also serve as venues for technology co-development and multinational business ventures.

To fulfill its commitment to inclusive growth, the CICSA may also explore satellite labs and other means of delivering this service to its beneficiaries who cannot relocate or travel.

Technical and Business Advisory services:

The CICSA helps to improve the competitiveness of its entrepreneurs through business training, technical advice and mentorship. This will equip local citizens with the necessary skills to generate and sustain an innovation pipeline. Advisory services will include:

BUSINESS PLANNING: The CICSA will provide basic business planning advice for interested companies. A full set of services will be offered, including business plan development, professional presentation skills, marketing strategy, human resource management, and basic operations.

FINANCIAL PLANNING: As part of investment due-diligence, individuals eligible for CICSA financing will be offered financial planning services to ensure their companies are investment-ready. SMEs will be equipped with skills in budgeting, bookkeeping and financial projections. Joint training can be developed with the private sector for certain aspects, such as SME banking.

TECHNICAL EXPERTS: The CICSA will retain a group of technical experts in all the climate friendly, clean technology sectors. Referral services will also be available to connect entrepreneurs with local expertise. Opportunities to engage international knowledge exchange platforms also exist, such as partnerships with the World Bank Institute and the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN).

MARKET INFORMATION: In addition to linking SMEs with existing local and global data sources, the CICSA will publish market assessments from time to time. These original reports will identify upcoming needs and trends for climate technology innovation, prioritizing the South African context and addressing the need for reliable, comprehensive information at all strata of the economy.

By undertaking pro-active research on existing and emerging climate innovation initiatives in the social economy, the CICSA can make much-needed progress towards filling in information gaps in the lower socioeconomic strata of South Africa. Monitoring initiatives that promote green economy and climate innovation support among the disadvantaged will create a better understanding of what works and what does not in the local context.

Skills Development:

Green Learnership:

This is a 12 month programme targeted at the youth of the Gauteng Province. The programme is based around the New Venture Creation NQF Level 4 curriculum. The participants are being developed into becoming entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial - individuals who can bring about innovation within a corporate environment.
Participants are offered access to a comprehensive skills-set that includes technical skills, soft skills, professional skills and personal development.

General Services:

Policy Advocacy:

POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: The main objective of the policy research is to identify hurdles or gaps to innovation in current national policies. As an industry focal point, the CIC has an opportunity to ensure that its opinions have a concrete influence on the regulatory framework. To this end, the CIC will engage international partners to establish guidelines and benchmarks on policies and investment in research and development to assist in setting national R&D standards and priorities
GOVERNMENT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: The CIC will work with various State Institutions to promote favorable policy, technology partnerships and linkages to global markets by leveraging networks through infoDev‟s Climate Technology Program.

Enabling Ecosystems: Local, Regional and International:

Creating and maintaining local, regional, and international partnerships that help to promote the green economy and the proliferation of clean technology through collaboration and knowledge/skills exchange.

Source: http://www.cicsouthafrica.co.za/