Two Global Opportunities Empowering Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact
By Zamie Ayo
1.Organizer: Irish Tech Challenge
Location: South Africa
Program Type: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support
Deadline: 04-08-2025
Brief
Applications are open for the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2025. Join the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa and seize the opportunity to change the tech landscape while making a global impact. The Irish Tech Challenge aims to support innovation and entrepreneurship by fostering connections between the South Africa and Irish tech ecosystem. The Tech Challenge will identify a number of high-potential impact-driven South Africa tech start-up each year and provide them with a curated mentoring and acceleration program in the Irish tech ecosystem.
The Aims of the Irish Tech Challenge are:
- To provide seven high-potential entrepreneurs who are ready to expand their company and operations globally, with access to high-quality Irish expertise and networks.
- To foster stronger ties and collaboration between the tech and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Ireland and South Africa. The objective is to provide a platform for both countries to thrive through mutual cooperation and support.
Benefit:
The Irish Tech Challenge will award ambitious, post-revenue South African startups with:
- Up to Ten thousand Euro in grant funding.
- A funded trip t Ireland where you will be immersed in the Irish technology ecosystem.
- An opportunity to learn from Irish business mentors on how to scale in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland
Eligibility
- Open to startups headquartered in South Africa or Ireland.
- At least 51% owned by a South Africa and/or partnership with an Irish national.
- At least one founder/CEO must be full-time. Women-led or youth-led businesses are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Addressing one of the 17 United National Sustainable Development Goals.
- All Tech sectors welcome. They are particularly interested in: clean/Green-Tech, Circular Economies, Med/Health/Biotech, Ed-Tech, WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene)
- Post revenue,: Pre-revenue (but with developed IP or prototype). Venture must demonstrate commercial potential
Registration: https://opportunitydesk.org/2025/07/10/irish-tech-challenge-south-africa-2025/
2. Organizer: European Commission Access City Award
Location: Europe | Program Type: Award
Application Deadline: September 9, 2025
Brief
Application are open for the European Commission Access City Award 2026, since 2010, the European Commission organizes the Access City Award, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum, to reward EU cities that are prioritizing accessibility for persons with disabilities. Accessibility is a master key that opens the door to the city’s services, buildings and spaces, so persons with disabilities can take the lead of their lives, live independently and fully participate in the community.
Cities are key actors to ensure accessibility, as they have a direct impact on our everyday life and needs as citizens. A city is accessible when persons with disabilities can for instance:
- Get information in ways that they can read and understand.
- Go around the streets and enjoy public areas, such as parks and playgrounds.
- Get in public buildings like hospitals, town halls, libraries, and sport halls.
- Communicate with the local administration in person, by phone or online.
Awards
The successful applicants have to demonstrate a coherent approach to accessibility and an ambitious vision in tackling accessibility in the city.
- The winner and runners-up will receive a monetary prize:
1st Place: EUR150,000
2nd Place: EUR 120,000
3rd Place: EUR 80,000
- This year, the European Commission also intends to award a special mention for Accessibility in Housing to a city that is addressing the housing crisis while ensuring accessibility for person with disabilities.
- The EU Jury may decide to award other Special Mention if there are cities that have done exceptional work in a particular key area of accessibility, the current context and the cities related accessibility initiatives, or other specific highlights of the applications.
Eligibility
- All EU cities of over 50,000 inhabitants.
- Urban areas composed of two or more towns with a combined population of over 50.000 inhabitants, if they are in EU countries with fewer than 2 cities with over 50,000 inhabitants.
Application: The application period is open until 9 September 2025. Application must be submitted electronically via the online application platform: https://access-city-award.ec.europa.eu/
