SGCI News
Many promising technology-driven ideas struggle to progress beyond the concept stage due to limited access to early-stage support and mentorship. These challenges highlight the need for targeted interventions that could…
Many promising technology-driven ideas struggle to progress beyond the concept stage due to limited access to early-stage support and mentorship.
These challenges highlight the need for targeted interventions that could transform innovative ideas into viable and scalable solutions.
It is against this backdrop that the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), GEN Namibia, Basecamp Business Incubator, Co-Creation Hub Namibia (CcHUB), RLabs Namibia, and the NUST Innovation Hub (NUST-i), is implementing the BOOSTUP 2025/26 Programme.
BOOSTUP is an early-stage start-up support initiative aimed at strengthening Namibia’s innovation ecosystem by empowering innovators who leverage technology to address community and societal challenges. The programme was announced in 2025 through a national call inviting Namibian innovators to apply.
Following a competitive selection process, 20 start-ups were selected from 30 applications received. The chosen cohort represents different regions of Namibia, a true reflection of the nation’s innovation potential.
The programme officially kicked off with the online Hunt Programme, held from 19 to 23 January 2026 and facilitated by Basecamp Business Incubator.
This intensive five-day experience supported participants to validate their ideas by testing desirability, feasibility, and viability. Through structured sessions, innovators refined their value propositions, assessed market needs, and laid a strong foundation for incubation and future investment readiness.
Through the BOOSTUP Programme, NCRST and its partners are responding directly to the need for early-stage innovation support, while fostering technology-driven solutions that contribute to Namibia’s socio-economic development.
Please check out the stories and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you!
Let’s continue the conversation on our social media
Related News
Gambia workshop tackles research funding gaps
Research funding alone cannot fix a research system without investment in people, systems and institutions; this was the central message driving a three-day capacity-strengthening workshop held in The Gambia. The workshop, held from 4–6 August, was organised by the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF)…
STISA-2034: Multi-country research partnerships for greater impact
Africa’s development challenges, from climate resilience to health system strengthening to inclusive digital transformation, rarely stop at national borders. Many of the issues facing communities across the continent require evidence, expertise and solutions that can be developed and tested across different contexts. This is why…
Ghana’s research lead wins continental recognition
Eric Danquah, Chairman of the Ghana National Research Fund’s (GNRF) Governing Board, has been elected a Fellow of the Liberia Academy of Sciences (LAS), a distinction recognising his contributions to plant genetics, crop improvement, and agricultural research across Africa. His work has shaped institutions, trained…
Research and Resources
SGCI funded projects
Rwanda’s integrated approach to sustainable agriculture and nutrition
Project Titles & Institution Areas of Research Number of Projects being funded Project Duration Grant Amount In-Kind Distribution Council Collaboration with other councils
