Call for Innovation Competition

Annual Technology Business Idea and Start-up Innovation Competition

The Office of Industry Linkage and Technology Transfer (ILTT) in partnership with the
AAU-SIDA Project is organizing an annual technology-based innovation competition to
host new tenants/incubatees to its Technology Business Incubation Center (AAU-TBIC).
The purpose of this innovation competition is to solicit viable technology business ideas,
solutions and start-ups from top innovators of the AAU community with the aim to
enhance the engagement of the University on innovation incubation and technology
transfer. The promising technology businesses from the project will create employment
possibilities for the staffs, students and alumni of Addis Ababa University.
Who is eligible?
 Staff members of Addis Ababa University, students and alumni (must be at least
two years from the date of graduation and is currently unemployed) from the
University with a technology business idea or start-up to be scaled into a
medium- or high-tech company.
Group applicants (at least two members in a project) and female competitors are
encouraged.
 An enterprise that is willing to grant AAU 5% its share and profit after graduation
from the AAU-TBIC
Application and Selection Procedures:
1. Interested applicants for the competition and complete the application form and
submit it to the Office of ILTT Email: [email protected] within the specified
registration period.
2. Short-listed eligible candidates nominated based on the preliminary selection
criteria will take an entrepreneurship training for a more detailed screening.
3. Upon completion of the entrepreneurship training, a panel of judges composed of
experts from different fields will select the final viable projects to be hosted at the
AAU-TBIC based on full-fledged proposals prepared by the tenants.
4. Owner(s) of the eligible projects selected by the panel of judges will sign a
contract with the Office of ILTT and will be officially hosted at the AAU-TBIC at
most for three-years. The Office of ILTT will provide facilities required to incubate
and develop the business technologies as well as capacity building services to the
tenants through its Entrepreneurship Development Program.
Registration period: January 01 - 18, 2021
For more Information: Visit the announcement section of our website:
https://iltt.aau.edu.et/.
For any additional query, contact us at [email protected]

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 Application Form
1. Details of the applicant(s)
1.1 Name of the team Members Qualification Specialization Sex
Status*
a. _______________________ ___________ ____________ ____
______
b. _______________________ ___________ ____________ ____
______
c. _______________________ ___________ ____________ ____
______

*Staff or student or alumni

Please attach CVs of the project leader and members involved in the project
1.2 Primary contact details (all communications will be done to given contact details)
 Name of the principal contact person (PI) __________________________
 Email address__________________________________________________
 Phone Number _________________________________________________
 College/Institute/Department _____________________________________
2. Motivation for the competition:
Why do you want to take part in this competition? What do you expect to achieve
from your participation? Why do you think you are the right person for us? (word limit:
150)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. About the business idea/start-up project
3.1 Title of the technology business idea/start-up:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________.
3.2 Stage of project (Please tick )
☐Idea ☐Idea with Prototype ☐Tested solution
☐Pilot Launched ☐Already Launched ☐Other, please specify
3.3 Business Model (Please tick)

☐For profit ☐Not-for-profit ☐Hybrid

3.4 Idea/Project Overview

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 Describe, what it is, explain the objective of your idea/start-up, its technical status
(matured and proved technical feasibility), etc. (word limit: 200)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

3.5 Product Description

Explain what is your product its distinct features and advantages. Additionally, give
details of product’s offerings. (word limit: 200)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.

3.6 Outcome/impact of the project

Explain possible outcome and impact of the project. What current issues and
challenges of society/sector/lifestyle your idea addresses? (example: increase
agricultural productivity, efficiency improvement, employment, environmental
impact, export, replacement or import, replacement of foreign enterprises, etc.)
(word limit: 150)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.

3.7 Explain your business model. How does/will your venture make money and its
financial feasibility? (word limit: 200)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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 _______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.

3.8 Describe your Market and Consumers.

Explain the market for your product, current pricing, category of consumers. (world
limit: 100)
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3.9 Describe the financial source of the project
3.9.1 The project requires total estimated budget of Birr _________ (in words)
during the incubation period (attach breakdown).
3.9.2 Sources of finance :
a) Own sources (self-financing): Birr __________
b) Seeking grant from AAU-TBIC: Birr __________
c) Grant secured from ______ : Bir ___________
d) Bank loan from _________ : Bir ___________
3.9.3 The total business investment cost of the project/start-up after the
incubation period: Birr _________ (in words) (attach breakdown).
3.10 Potential and willingness of the enterprise to maintain long term relationship with
AAU after graduation from AAU-TBIC.

3.10.1 The project requires continuous R&D with AAU Yes No

3.10.2 The enterprise can grant AAU 5% its share and profit. Yes No
3.11 Environmental and health hazards of
Is there any environmental or health hazard due to the process and
technology/knowledge to be incubated? Yes No
If yes, describe including mitigation technique.

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 ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
3.12 Any service or material support expected/required from AAU-TBIC during the
incubation period?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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