TIA Commercialisation Support Fund (CSF)

TIA Commercialisation Support Fund

Connects startup and industry teams with commercialization support for TIA Commercialisation Support Fund in agriculture innovation, biotechnology, and energy systems.

The TIA Commercialisation Support Fund is the final rung of the Technology Innovation Agency's internal grant ladder, targeting innovations that have reached near-commercial maturity at TRL 8 through TRL 9. Administered by TIA — a South African state entity under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) — the fund is designed to prepare innovators for follow-on private or institutional investment by funding market testing and commercial validation activities rather than further research or prototype development.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (HEIs), science councils, SMMEs, and startups registered and operating in South Africa. The fund is open across TIA's eight priority sectors: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, energy, health, ICT, indigenous knowledge systems, industrial biotech, and natural resources. Award amounts denominated in South African rand are not publicly disclosed; applicants are encouraged to contact TIA directly at customerservice@tia.org.za for indicative figures. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed cohort or intake deadlines.

The Commercialisation Support Fund is most relevant to teams that have completed prototype development, validated product-market fit in pilot conditions, and are seeking structured support to demonstrate commercial viability to future investors. Because the fund operates at TRL 8–9, it is positioned downstream of both the Seed Fund (TRL 3–8) and the Technology Development Fund (TRL 4–7), and applicants should expect TIA to evaluate market traction, IP ownership, and follow-on funding readiness as key selection criteria.