SBIR in Developing Markets – Innovation programme
The SBIR in Developing Markets (SBIR in DM) is a phased innovation competition that focuses on societal challenges in selected low and middle-income countries. This multi-year programme is initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It provides seed money to entrepreneurs, helping them create positive change by developing promising new markets. It combines Dutch business skills with innovative solutions to specific societal challenges and it creates opportunities for local businesses to grow.
SBIR in DM challenges entrepreneurs to transform a societal challenge into a viable business idea. Dutch entrepreneurs and their partners in the target countries are challenged to study a societal challenge together and turn an innovative idea into a concrete, marketable product or service.
For whom
SBIR in DM provides innovative Dutch entrepreneurs the opportunity to enter developing markets. These entrepreneurs may have never worked outside the EU, but it helps if they have some knowledge of the target country.
All kinds of entrepreneurs and businesses are welcome to join. SBIR in DM provides seed money to help collaborate, form partnerships and integrate new ideas into the local context. It also helps with market access and attracting further investment.
SBIR methodology
The SBIR methodology facilitates, finances and provides a network to entrepreneurs in the research and development (R&D) phase of the innovation process, just before they are ready to enter the market. This process involves:
- collecting innovative ideas;
- supporting feasibility studies to see if the assumption of the idea/innovation are valid (phase 1);
- learning about the local context;
- building networks; and
- concretizing the innovation idea.
Entrepreneurs develop and test prototypes and work on the product/market fit (phase 2). Therefore, entrepreneurs look for a first customer, make a business plan to earn money and set up partnerships with local organisations.
The SBIR funnel approach gives a large group of entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate and get as far as possible in a competitive format.
Process
RVO publishes the calls for proposals on this website and other networks. Entrepreneurs who are interested can submit their ideas after the programme opens.
The competition itself starts after the deadline for submitting proposals. You can only submit a tender for a particular call when the SBIR in DM is open.
Budget
The budget for each call differs. RVO aims to have about 30 companies in phase 1 (feasiblity) and about 15 in phase 2 (prototype development). Generally, phase 1 has a budget of €50,000 and phase 2 has a budget of €200,000 for each innovation.
Eligible countries
Countries eligible for SBIR in DM are:
Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Ukraine.
Note that for each call a selection of countries will be chosen from the list above.
Examples
Explore the project database to view all projects that use the SBIR programme.
Open and upcoming calls
You can find open and upcoming SBIR in DM calls on this page.
There are no open calls at this moment.
To see all previous calls and public summaries, please visit this page (in Dutch).
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
