Have an idea that could change how Africa explores and manages its mineral resources?

The timbuktoo MineTech Hub, together with the United Nations Development Programme and ecosystem partners across Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, invites students, graduates, researchers, engineers, innovators, technical professionals and early-stage entrepreneurs to turn real world mining and mineral exploration challenges into practical technology solutions.

You do not need a finished product or an established company. A clearly defined idea or solution for how technology can be used to solve for the challenge briefs shared by the various UniPods is enough to apply. 

Applications close on 16 October 2026.

Apply now: https://forms.gle/a3DC6jsyVhCf11py6

This challenge led pre-incubation programme supports innovators as they move from a problem and an early idea to a validated solution and a prototype, with opportunities to engage industry stakeholders, technical experts and potential users along the way. It is built around one common challenge:

How might we develop accessible, cost-effective and locally relevant technologies that improve how mineral resources are identified, characterised and targeted?

Teams respond to country challenge statements developed with government and industry stakeholders, so every solution is grounded in a real need.

Solutions can be hardware, software or a combination of both, and can address how exploration data is collected, processed or interpreted.

• Mineral exploration and geological data
• Remote sensing and surveying
• Geophysical and geochemical technologies
• Mineral identification and analysis
• Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics

• Technical mentorship from experts, universities, geological institutions and mining sector practitioners.
• Industry engagement and validation to test whether your solution meets genuine user needs.
• Prototype development support through UniPods, MineTech Hub facilities and relevant innovation infrastructure.
• Entrepreneurship and venture readiness support, including business models, market validation and routes to commercialisation.
• Networking with mining stakeholders, researchers, technology experts, investors and innovation organisations.

Selected teams may also compete for seed funding to build low fidelity prototypes and proof of concept solutions, and high potential teams may progress to MineTech Hub incubation.

Multidisciplinary teams of 2 to 5 members, all aged 18 to 35, and all based in the same country, which must be Botswana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia or Zimbabwe, so the team can work together at the dedicated UniPod. Your team should:

• Be made up of students, recent graduates, researchers, engineers, technical professionals, innovators or early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Bring complementary skills across at least two relevant disciplines, including technical expertise such as Computer Science, Data Science, Mining Engineering, Geomatics or Software Engineering and other similar disciplines.
• Have a clearly identified problem in mineral exploration, mining or related environmental or operational activities, and an initial technology-based idea to address it.
• Define the role of each team member and commit to the programme throughout.
• Provide a valid national ID for each team member.
• Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Validation and pre-incubation (10 weeks): teams test the problem, users and business case while validating their solutions.

• Pitch and selection: based on problem relevance, technology potential, business validation and team readiness.

• Concept development and prototyping: selected teams build low fidelity prototypes, supported by seed funding. The programme will be delivered in a hybrid format, with online workshop sessions covering both technical subjects and business development services. Teams will also be required to use the UniPods for hands-on prototyping and development of their solutions.

• Technical review: solutions are reviewed with technical experts and industry stakeholders, and high potential teams are considered for MineTech Hub incubation.

• Intellectual property support: selected team leaders receive practical guidance on protecting and managing intellectual property.

We are looking for a real problem, a relevant and realistic technology concept, a team with complementary skills, and potential for impact beyond the programme. You do not need a finished product. You need an idea worth testing and a team ready to build.

Ready to turn a mining challenge into a technology solution? Apply before 16 October 2026.

Apply now: https://forms.gle/a3DC6jsyVhCf11py6

For questions, contact your participating UniPod or the MineTech Hub through the official programme channels. Email: zambia.minetech.hub@undp.org or coordinator@unipod.org.mw