- CALL IS OPEN
Space-IoT
Innovation Programme
Up to five SMEs and start-ups from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will run innovation experiments with Copernicus Earth Observation and IoT resources from the Space-IoT Box with mentoring, validation support and up to EUR 5,000 in funding.
CALL AT A GLANCE
up to €5,000
5
Kenya · Uganda · Tanzania
English
16 November 2026
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
Improve what you already built - with satellite and sensor data
The KijaniSpace Space-IoT Innovation Program supports selected SMEs and start-ups to improve existing agriculture-related products, services or applications using Space-IoT Box resources — an integrated Solution Box of Earth Observation resources, IoT tools, platforms and datasets.
KijaniSpace is a Horizon Europe project piloted in the Great Lake Victoria Basin region, focused on climate-smart agriculture applications in crop farming and fish farming.
- Onboarding
- Training
- Experiment
- Validation
- Showcase
Mentoring, pitch preparation and an in-person final showcase in Kenya run across the program.
WHO CAN APPLY
Three countries, one requirement
You must be legally established and operating in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania, and already have an agriculture-related product, service or application.
Kenya
SMEs & start-ups
Uganda
SMEs & start-ups
Tanzania
SMEs & start-ups
Apply as a single organisation
Applications are submitted by one legal entity.
One proposal per applicant
Only one proposal per applicant or team member can be funded.
An existing solution
Linked to crop farming, fish farming or another climate-smart agriculture use case.
TIMELINE
From call to showcase
Call for applications
15 Sep - 8 Jan 2027
- Open call launch and dissemination
- Application screening and selection
- Onboarding and agreement signing
Training and Business Development Support
11 Jan 2027 – 26 Feb 2027
- Technical training
- Business development support
Experiment planning and implementation
11 Jan 2027 – 19 May 2027
- Planning phase
- Implementation & coaching
- User testing & validation
Final showcase in Kenya & program closure
11 Jan - 04 Jun 2027
- Final showcase in Kenya
- Final reporting and documentation closure
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Support across the whole experiment
Selected teams get technical resources, business support and funding - not just a grant.
01
Space- IoT Box access
Resources, tools, datasets and documentation.
02
Technical training
On relevant Copernicus, Earth Observation and IoT resources.
03
Business development
Entrepreneurial support for your venture.
04
Product & market validation
Test your improvement with real users and customers.
05
Pitch & investment readiness
Prepare to present and raise.
06
Mentoring
Throughout the implementation period.
07
Final showcase
Resources, tools, datasets and documentation.
08
Up to €5,000
Financial support for eligible costs of the approved experiment.
THE INNOVATION EXPERIMENT
What your proposal has to show
A relevant climate-smart agriculture challenge
Use of Copernicus, EO, IoT or Space-IoT Box resources
How the existing solution will be improved
A clear plan, expected outputs and budget
Value for the Lake Victoria Basin and target countries
WHO CAN APPLY
Example application areas
Examples only - you may propose any relevant climate-smart agriculture solution that benefits from Space-IoT Box resources.
Weather and climate monitoring with IoT sensors and remote sensing
Water quality monitoring for fish farming
Fish farming decision-support services
Crop monitoring and crop phenology
Farm input planning, irrigation support and farm management
Crop disease risk monitoring and alerts
Seasonal planning and agroclimatic zoning
Precision agriculture using satellite imagery and IoT data
Hydrological flow assessment from IoT observations and satellite imagery
HOW TO APPLY
An online form plus a PDF proposal
The application form collects
01
Name of the SME or start-up
01
Country of operation
01
Contact person and contact details
01
Team profile and relevant experience
01
Your proposal as a PDF, using the provided template
01
Confirmation of availability and commitment to participate
The proposal package also includes a declaration of honour and, where required, an ethics self-assessment.
Your proposal PDF covers
Problem being addressed
Target users or customers
Link to climate-smart agriculture
Current product, service or application
Proposed innovation experiment
Planned use of Space-IoT Box resources
Expected improvement to the solution
Activities during the program
Expected outputs
Budget estimate
Support needed from the program
APPLICATION FORM
Open the submission form
PROPOSAL TEMPLATE
Preview the template
DEADLINE
16 October 2026
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
English
Applications submitted through any channel other than the official online submission form will not be accepted.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Up to €5,000 per selected team
The support covers eligible actual costs incurred while implementing the approved innovation experiment. Costs must be directly linked to the approved activities, milestones and deliverables.
20%
Pre-financing payment of the approved project budget.
80%
Final payment of remaining eligible costs, after approval of the final report and deliverables.
Beneficiaries submit a financial statement at the end of the funded experiment for assessment by the KijaniSpace project coordinator.
Eligible use of funds
Activities directly linked to the approved innovation experiment.
Testing and improving your product, service or application with Space-IoT Box resources
Implementing new features or services based on Copernicus and IoT technologies
Collecting data, user feedback or stakeholder validation
Preparing technical documentation, validation evidence and impact summaries
Taking part in KijaniSpace virtual meetings, hackathons and showcase activities
Communication and dissemination linked to the funded experiment
Funding must be used only for the approved innovation experiment and in line with the sub-grant agreement.
EVALUATION & SELECTION
How proposals are scored
Applications are first checked for completeness and eligibility. Eligible applications are then evaluated by three evaluators against the published criteria.
Excellence
Quality of the proposal, understanding of the open call, relevance of the selected Copernicus services and Space-IoT Box tools, and suitability for the selected region.
Impact
Contribution to KijaniSpace objectives, relevance to climate-smart agriculture, value for users and stakeholders, and potential for dissemination, communication and exploitation.
Implementation
Feasibility of the activities, quality of the implementation plan, team capacity, budget realism, deliverables, and ability to finish within the program period.
Scores produce a ranked list of proposals. Tied scores are resolved in a consensus meeting.
Selected applicants are contacted after the evaluation. Unsuccessful applicants are also informed of the outcome.
IF YOU ARE SELECTED
Your obligations
Sign a dedicated Sub-Grant Agreement with the KijaniSpace project coordinator
Use the financial support only for the approved innovation experiment
Take part in onboarding, training, mentoring, review meetings and the final showcase
Submit progress updates during the program
Keep records of actual costs incurred
Submit a final report, financial statement and supporting evidence
Document technical outputs, validation feedback, impacts and lessons learned
Support project communication with approved non-confidential materials
If funds are misused or costs are found ineligible, the beneficiary repays the affected amount to the KijaniSpace project coordinator in line with the financial support conditions.
IP, confidentiality & data protection
Applicants identify any pre-existing products, services, data, tools, software, know-how or materials they bring into the program.
The applicant guidelines and sub-grant agreement define the rules on intellectual property, data protection, confidentiality and liability.
Public communication uses only approved non-confidential information, summaries, photos, screenshots, presentations or demonstration materials provided by the beneficiaries.
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Can we apply as a consortium of two companies?
No. Applications are submitted by a single organisation, and only one proposal per applicant or team member can be funded.
Do we need an existing product?
Yes. The experiment must improve an existing agriculture-related product, service or application linked to crop farming, fish farming or another climate-smart agriculture use case.
Are teams outside Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania eligible?
No. You must be legally established and operating in one of those three countries.
Is the €5,000 paid up front?
No. 20% is paid as pre-financing; the remaining eligible costs are paid after the final report and deliverables are approved.
Can the funding cover salaries or equipment?
Only eligible actual costs directly linked to the approved activities, milestones and deliverables — as defined in the applicant guidelines and sub-grant agreement.
Must we use Copernicus data specifically?
Your experiment must use Copernicus together with Earth Observation, IoT, or other Space-IoT Box-supported resources — the mix is up to you, as long as it fits the use case and uses Copernicus.
Can we submit by email?
No. Applications sent through any channel other than the official online submission form will not be accepted. Proposals must be in English, in PDF, using the provided template.
Who owns the IP? we bring or create?
You identify pre-existing products, data, tools and know-how in your application; the applicant guidelines and sub-grant agreement set the rules on IP, confidentiality, data protection and liability.
How are proposals assessed?
Eligibility and completeness check first, then external and internalevaluators score Excellence, Impact and Implementation to produce a ranked list; ties go to a consensus meeting.
Will unsuccessful applicants hear back?
Yes. All applicants are informed of the evaluation outcome after selection.
Ready to put satellite and sensor data to work?
Submit your innovation experiment before To be announced. Applications are accepted in English through the official online form only.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CALL
Jan Macura
Plan4All · jan.macura@plan4all.eu
Prince Banini
Waziup e.V. · prince.banini@waziup.org