Introduction

Innovate UK is inviting ambitious businesses, that are interested in applying to future rounds of Energy Catalyst funding, to apply for an international brokerage trip to Malawi. Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK EDGE and Innovate UK KTN, the programme of support consists of a preparation phase, followed by a 7-day country visit, and post-visit support from Innovate UK EDGE

Why Malawi

In January 2021, the Malawi Government launched the Malawi Vision 2063 which is the overarching national development strategy that aims at transforming Malawi into a wealthy and self-reliant industrialised upper middle-income country. Energy and investment in power generation are clearly highlighted under industrialization and
economic infrastructure, which are one of pillars and enablers of the vision. Under the vision, Malawi aims to continue investing in the energy sector beyond hydro being the main source of energy and to explore other alternative sources, including solar, coal and thermal.

The country plans to have such a diversified range of affordable energy sources that will increase energy supply and ensure energy reliability. One of the major binding constraints to Malawi’s economic growth continues to be energy. The country continues to have one of the lowest electrification rates in the world with a meagre 11% population connected to the national power grid and an additional 7% using off grid solutions especially solar. Malawi’s energy balance is
dominated by biomass (firewood, charcoal, agricultural and industrial wastes), which account for 80% of the total primary energy supply due to lack of affordable and reliable alternatives.

More than 97% of households in Malawi rely on illegally and unsustainably sourced biomass (charcoal and firewood) for domestic cooking and heating energy. This has resulted in high levels of deforestation and forest degradation throughout the country,
with downstream negative impacts on water availability, hydropower generating capacity, and more broadly, vulnerability of Malawians to climate change.

The Government of Malawi continues to promote use of alternatives to charcoal and firewood which include use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), biogas and biomass briquettes. The Government is also promoting off-grid solar products such as Pico Solar Products (PSP) or Solar Home Systems (SHS) that generally use a combination of solar panels linked to rechargeable batteries capable of producing safe, secure, and effective energy. These technologies are mainly meant to target the rural vulnerable households that cannot afford connection to the national and mini-grid systems. Recently, the Government also removed import taxes on all solar products to make the technologies affordable thereby supporting the policy for Renewable Energy technologies.

What to expect:

Energy Catalyst international brokerage is a structured programme around three main phases and each business will have support from Innovate UK EDGE for the duration of the offering, including developing an action plan to capitalise on the opportunities identified. The three main phases are:
• Getting ready: Pre-visit briefing to build knowledge and understanding of the market and potential opportunities, including how to do business, cultural aspects, how to protect your
IP and training on how to improve your pitch and articulate your value proposition.
• Market visit: Access to NGOs, local businesses, academics, and governments who will be able to provide information about local opportunities and with potential to become partners.
• Helping you make the best of the opportunity: Support from Innovate UK EDGE to follow up and take advantage of the opport
Applicant Briefing Event

For more information on this programme and to compliment your application you are invited to attend the applicant briefing event which will take place on 26 April 2022.

About Energy Catalyst international brokerage: Energy Catalyst international brokerage brings together cohorts of up to 12 innovative UK businesses who are interested in applying for funding but need help tailoring their technologies to a market and/or building collaborations and partnerships.

They are not about trade and export, but on helping innovative UK businesses tap into complementary knowledge, skills, facilities, in the chosen country and building understanding, insight, collaborations, partnerships and networks to enable to business to apply for Energy Catalyst funding

The support can last up to 12 months and is structured around three phases:-

• Getting ready for the market: Pre-visit briefing to build knowledge and understanding of the market and potential opportunities, including how to do business, cultural aspects, how to protect your IP and training on how to improve your pitch and articulate your value proposition.

• Market visit: Access to NGOs, local businesses, academics, and governments who will be able to provide information about local opportunities and with potential to become partners.

• Making the most of the opportunity: One-to-one support from Innovate UK EDGE to follow up and take advantage of the opportunities identified.

By applying for a place on this initiative, businesses commit to participating in all three delivery phases to maximise the opportunities for the business and public investment. An individual senior person from the business will be expected to participate in all activities and should be the named applicant.

Successful businesses will have designated support from Innovate UK EDGE for up to 12 months, including developing an action plan to capitalise on the opportunities identified. 

On acceptance to Energy Catalyst international brokerage event, a commitment fee of £500 (ex VAT) will be obtained from each successful company which will be returned after their involvement in all activities. Non-attendance of any part of the initiative after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all of the fee. You will be sent a link to pay your deposit in order to confirm your place once you have been formally accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: Successful applicants will be expected to fully comply with any conditions of travel to Rwanda as well as any local regulations on face covering and social distancing. As such, you might be required to provide proof of vaccination, valid travel medical insurance and/or negative COVID-19 test ahead of travel. The safety of our delegation is our top priority. If the COVID-19 situation does not allow us to travel to the market, a virtual visit or postponement of the visit may be considered.

Deadline for applications is 9th May 2022.
Application Form Process

3 sections to complete:
Section 1 Applicant information
Section 2 Business information and suitability with scope and objective
Section 3 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
 
To help you work on your application offline, a Word document version of this form can be downloaded HERE. Please note the offline form is only for your own use, and the information you wish to submit MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE for the application to be accepted.
Section 2 is your opportunity to provide information that will be assessed against the scope and objectives for the programme.

Make sure to complete all sections.
Programme Information
Title Energy Catalyst Brokerage
Country Malawi Technology/Sector area Energy Access

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