The French Embassy in South Africa

Application Deadline:30 October 2020.

The South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the French Embassy in South Africa in collaboration with their national knowledge transfer associations, invite research teams, industrial actors and technology transfer offices to submit proposals that will foster the development of technology transfer between France and South Africa.

Both South Africa and France are implementing proactive policies to increase the impact of their public research, in particular by strengthening the link between academia and the industrial sphere through the creation and enhancement of technology transfer structures.

The scientific excellence of South Africa and France creates great potential for the transfer of results from our public laboratories to the industrial sector, thus creating jobs opportunities and supporting economic growth.

At the same time, our countries have a long tradition of technology transfer and a real expertise around technology transfer offices. Exchanges of expertise are possible and this project wishes to promote them.

It is a year-round program: the call will be open from the beginning of July to the end of October 2020

Aim

Facilitating the link between research teams and industrial stakeholders is a priority pillar of the innovation strategy of the Department of Science and Innovation and the Embassy of France in South Africa.

Through the French South African Tech Transfer Bridge, a flexible and year-round program, the main objective is to support the development of strong partnerships (e.g. patent licensing, commercialization…) between French or South African public laboratories developing a high value- added solutions in collaboration with South African or French potential industrial partners.

The aim of this programme is to facilitate cooperation between research teams, technology transfer offices and industrial players in France and South Africa, in the final phases of contracting or testing the relevance of technologies for industrial use.

Example of a fundable case

A research team from a South African University has been helped by its Technology Transfer Office to identify a French enterprise interested in their technology. They are currently negotiating a licensing agreement. In this particular case, the Tech Transfer Bridge Program will help by providing an incentive funding (travel, accommodation) to help transfer the technology: the industrial partner will be invited to South Africa to visit the UCT lab and to be trained to use the technology.

Two technology transfer offices wish to (1) exchange their respective expertise in the field of license negotiation, (2) or would like to work on building up a portfolio of common patents to be exploited, or (3) wish to develop a common framework for the “valorisation” of the different common research projects of their university, this programme will be able to facilitate the organisation of an exchange of staff to make progress on these issues.

Requirements

Research teams from a French or South African public university, research Institute; through their own technology transfer offices
French or South African enterprises willing to acquire a new technology
Technology transfer offices of France or South Africa that are interested in developing their expertise together

The French south African Tech Transfer Bridge Program provides for individual visits for a minimum of one week and a maximum of two weeks in the field of “technology transfer activities”, whatever the scientific field is.

The laureates will have their stay in France or in South Africa funded (travel and accommodation*).

The maximum amount per project is EUR 2 500 or R 46 000.

^*Other costs will not be funded: subsistence costs, travel to countries other than South Africa and the International Partner, consultant’s fees, educational expenses (bursaries, fellowships and scholarships), insurance and medical care, equipment, project management fees, salaries, temporary staff fees; etc.

The deadline for applications is 15 November 2020, and the call is for activities from July 2020 until 30 October 2020.

The application form is available on the following websites:

French Embassy- https://za.ambafrance.org/

Innovation Bridge Portal- www.innovationbridge.info/ibportal/

NIPMO- https://nipmo.dst.gov.za

TIA- www.tia.org.za

SARIMA- www.sarima.co.za

Download the application form from the French embassy website and the Innovation Bridge Portal.
- Complete the application form.
Save the application form as a pdf file.
- Submitting the form to [email protected]

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the French-South African Tech Transfer Bridge 2020

Application Deadline:15 March 2019

South African graduates are invited by the Embassy of France to apply to their competitive Masters and Doctorate scholarship program. Applications from all academic disciplines, especially science and technology, will be considered for the academic year starting in September 2019.

The French Embassy scholarships can completely or partially finance the annual tuition fees, health insurance and Schengen visa fees for selected applicants. The round-trip airfare and monthly stipend towards living expenses can further be covered. Co-funding opportunities are strongly encouraged to strengthen the collaboration between South African and French institutions and the public and private sector.

The French Embassy in South Africa has supported just over forty five students during the academic year 2017 /2018 with their Masters and Doctorate degrees. Some of the scholarship holders will continue with their studies in 2019/2020 at the French Higher Education institutions while others will return as France Alumni ambassadors to invest their acquired skills in South Africa.

Start identifying and applying to your French institutions now using the Campus France search engine.

Application form for French Embassy Master Scholarship programme 2019 – 2020
Documents required for a complete application:
1. Fully completed and signed application form.
2. Certified copy of passport (valid for the period of your stay in France).
3. Certified copies of all degree certificates and academic transcripts, chronological according to
date of completion (both for complete and incomplete qualifications).
4. Curriculum vitae (no longer than two pages).
5. Motivation letter (no longer than two pages).
6. Acceptance letters from 3 academic institutions in France (if you have not yet been accepted,
proof of correspondence with the institutions will be required indicating that you have
commenced the application process).
7. The internet links of the three academic institutions indicating the tuition fees of the three selected
courses.
o Maximum academic fees (administration and tuition fees combined) financed with a full
scholarship: 5000€.
o For academic fees higher than 5000€ co-financing options must be provided (personal
savings and/or enterprise sponsorship).
E-mail complete application folder (7 attachments in PDF format only) before 15 March 2019 to
[email protected]

Application form for French Embassy PhD Scholarship programme 2019 – 2020
1. PERSONAL DETAILS
Surname (as it appears on your passport)
First name(s) (as it appears in your passport)
Sex (mark with X) Male Female
Nationality
(please inform in case of dual nationality)
Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
Place (city) of birth
Country of birth
Marital status (mark with X) Single Married /
Civil Union Other
Required documents (to accompany this form):
1. Fully completed and signed application form
2. Certified copy of valid passport
3. Certified copies of all degree certificates and academic transcripts (both for complete and
incomplete qualifications)
4. Motivation letter (no longer than two pages)
5. Curriculum vitae (no longer than two pages)
6. Outline of research project (no longer than two pages)
7. Supporting letter from supervisor in South Africa
8. Invitation letter from supervisor in France
9. Proof of registration at a South African university
A hosting agreement signed by the Prefecture in France and the French academic institution will be
requested upon visa application. Please apply for this document at least 2 months in advance of your
departure for France – once you have secured funding for your stay in France.
E-mail the complete application (9 attachments in PDF format): [email protected]
Please note that there is no deadline and applications are accepted throughout the year.

Remember, you do not have to speak French to study in France – numerous Master programs taught in English are available at French Higher Education institutions.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the French Embassy Master and PhD scholarship program 2019/2020

French-South African Tech Transfer Bridge 2020 for South African Research Teams

French Embassy Master and PhD scholarship program 2019/2020 for young South Africans to study in France (Fully Funded)