One of the key challenges potential South African Horizon 2020 participants has to meet, is to find partners and financial support to fund international travel to meet and discuss potential Horizon 2020 projects with European partners. Cognisant of the difficulties sometimes posed to South African researchers in joining consortia for Horizon 2020 participation, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) created a “Seed Funding Instrument.” Under the Seed Funding Instrument, the DSI is able to support the travel costs of South African researchers travelling to Europe to engage with European partners regarding Horizon 2020 collaboration. Alternatively funding can be granted to support the travel of European researchers to South Africa.

Funding is allocated upon the evaluation of applications submitted to the DSI. Seed funding applications for example have to demonstrate the applicant’s prior, thorough interrogation of the Work Programme of the Horizon 2020 activity concerned, communication with potential partners, and an invite by the European partners to come and participate in a project proposal discussion in Europe.

All requests should be drafted using the seed funding application template. Seed funding requests should be submitted a month in advance to DSI, and applicants will get DSI’s response within 10 working days after submitting the request.

Note: Applications should be accompanied by an invitation from an EU partner to visit Europe as well as flight and accommodation confirmations in line with the budget submitted.

Kindly note, DSI will now need to enter into contracts with the applicant’s institution for all our funding instruments established to support SA’s participation in the European Union funded programmes. As a result, it may take up to a month to get a response and receive a contract from us. It is important for applicants to submit applications two months before the planned activity to have enough time to process and arrange payment.