COVID-19 has reached the shores of Mauritius with a sudden and massive blow and is, unfortunately, progressing rapidly in our Country. In response to this outbreak, the Government of Mauritius is implementing very strong measures to contain its propagation. These include: raising awareness of the local population on the nature of the disease, barring entry to arrivals from badly-hit countries, mandatory quarantine of passengers from affected regions, prohibiting mass gatherings, physical distancing, enabling people to work from home and more recently a total lockdown.
Mauritius still faces challenges in the coordination of its response to this pandemic. In order to face this unique crisis, by its magnitude and its impact on our society, the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), through this special call for projects, has earmarked funds to encourage entrepreneurs, academics, researchers, enterprises and start-ups implement short and medium-term projects that aim at improving and accelerating the Government’s response to the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and eventually contribute to counter the impacts and planning beyond of this deadly pandemic.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
This Special Call for Proposals has been launched to encourage entrepreneurs, academics, researchers, enterprises and start-ups implement short and medium-term projects that aim at improving and accelerating the Government’s response to the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and eventually contribute to counter the impacts and planning beyond of this deadly pandemic.
Support under this Special Call is being targeted simultaneously on two fronts, namely:
- Technology-based products and services: eg development of products, materials, innovative technologies (including software and apps) and manufacturing/production processes, practical demonstrations, equipment prototypes or the development of a scaling process for the transition from experimental production to large production; and
- Social and policy measures: eg, analyzing and improving logistics of the response to the outbreak; strategies to improve public awareness, knowledge, and trust; new approaches to minimize misinformation, stigma, and fear; cultural dimensions of the epidemic; evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of social policies to contain the outbreak (school closures, lockdown, supply shortages, travel restrictions, etc) and identifying improvements or new policies; social dynamics of transmission and vulnerability and how to improve communication of risks, uncertainties and implications as well as the psychological impacts during and after the lockdown.
Benefits
- The total amount available for this funding opportunity is currently MUR30 Million
- The MRIC will allocate the available budget across the two Research and Innovation areas to ensure a balanced response.
- For the Technology-based counter-measures, the maximum amount per grant is MUR 2 Million over 3 to 9 months.
- For the Social and Policy counter-measures, the maximum amount per grant is MUR 1 Million over 3 to 9 months.
Exceptionally, financial support of 100% will be granted for approved projects. However, applicants need to demonstrate their contribution to the project and are strongly advised to consult the Guide on Allowable and Non-Allowable Expenses specific to this Special Call on the MRIC website.
Eligibilities
- Companies and research institutions with expertise in a variety of fields: medical equipment and treatment equipment, prophylactic equipment, remote medicine, measurement, and control equipment, paper, textile, chemical manufacture, polymers and plastics industries, etc.
- This Special Call for Proposals applies to applications from Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands within the Republic of Mauritius.
- NGOs including community-based organizations, the Maker community, academia, companies, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply, preferably in networked form.
Application Process
- Applications will be evaluated in the order they are received using a fast-track process.
- Potential applicants can submit their requests immediately, and in a continuous manner, in order to gain timely response and move rapidly on the development and implementation of the solutions.
- All applications should be forwarded to [email protected] with the subject “Application Form – SCP COVID19”.
- Two application periods are being set:
- First application period: 04 to 17 April 2020 (Deadline: Friday 17th April at 14h00).
- The second application period will be opened taking into account the evolution of the situation, anticipating it to be approximately one month after the initiation of the first application period.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: April 17, 2020
Application ClosedOfficial link
