TIA Commercialisation Support Fund (CSF)

The TIA Commercialisation Support Fund is Technology Innovation Agency's later-stage South African route for taking publicly funded research and other innovations into market-ready form. TIA operates under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and this fund reflects its commercialisation mandate. It targets HEIs, science councils, SMMEs, and startups at TRL 8-9, with eligible applicants limited to South African institutions and companies rather than individuals. The public record does not set a standard award cap, but the purpose is market testing and validation ahead of follow-on investment rather than early technical feasibility. Applications are rolling, which suits teams that can move quickly once the technology is nearly ready. The strongest fit is a team with a near-ready product, a clear market question, and enough evidence to show that remaining risk is mostly commercial. Within TIA's portfolio, it sits above proof-of-concept support and below deployment finance, so the case needs to show that the technology can stand in front of buyers or investors.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.