Catalyzing small and medium-sized enterprise growth through scalable research and development impact vouchers in Africa

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to Africa’s economic development, yet they face significant barriers to structured and affordable research and development (R&D) support that is essential for innovation and competitiveness. This project seeks to address the systemic barriers that limit SME access to R&D in Africa by designing a scalable and structured framework to expand their access to R&D impact vouchers. It will foster inclusive collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers in Africa.

The project will generate high-impact outputs that can strengthen Africa’s innovation systems, including a scalable, open-access R&D Voucher Toolkit suitable for replication by innovation hubs, research councils and government ministries. It will also develop a new SME–Researcher Matchmaking Framework to facilitate engagement between start-ups and public research organizations (PROs). The project also plans to develop an equity-aware impact assessment tool for measuring the sustainability impact of voucher-funded projects. Gender equality and social inclusion are priorities for this research and will be systematically integrated into all phases of the project, from design to implementation and learning.

The refined voucher framework will be tested through six new pilot vouchers with new implementing partners selected through an open call. To ensure the model’s financial viability beyond the pilot phase, long-term financing strategies that blend public, private and philanthropic resources will be explored. By institutionalizing the voucher framework within national innovation agencies and regional development programs, the project intends to create a model that can expand to new regions and sectors over time. It will begin operating in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

The project anticipates enhanced innovation capacity for SMEs, including those led by women, youth and underrepresented groups, as well as sustained engagement between PROs and private-sector actors. It will contribute to a much-needed body of evidence on how R&D vouchers can drive innovation in low- and middle-income countries, supporting global efforts to bridge the research-industry divide.