Francophone Africa is poised for a major leap in technological development with the launch of a $69 million DeepTech Innovation Fund, a bold initiative aimed at accelerating innovation in science and technology across the region. Spearheaded by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) in partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), the fund represents a transformative shift in how the region approaches research-driven entrepreneurship and high-impact technologies.
The DeepTech Innovation Fund, valued at CFA 40 billion, is designed to support more than 1,000 technology-driven enterprises across OAPI’s 17 member states. This includes countries such as Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Mali, where early-stage startups and researchers often face barriers in accessing funding for scalable tech solutions. The fund focuses on DeepTech sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, clean energy, advanced materials, and quantum technologies—fields that hold the potential to radically transform industries and livelihoods.
According to officials from OAPI, the fund will not only provide capital but also technical support and intellectual property guidance to ensure that homegrown innovations are protected, commercialized, and globally competitive. This positions the initiative as more than just a financial mechanism; it’s a strategic vehicle to stimulate a robust innovation ecosystem in Francophone Africa.
AGF, which brings its longstanding expertise in de-risking SME investments, will play a critical role in managing financial risks and providing guarantees to participating financial institutions. This collaboration is key to attracting further private capital and ensuring long-term sustainability of the innovation pipeline.
Beyond capital injection, the fund’s architects have committed to fostering partnerships between startups, research institutions, and corporate entities, creating a dynamic network of innovation. By facilitating this cross-sectoral engagement, the fund aims to bridge the often-cited disconnect between academic research and market-ready solutions.
One of the fund’s most anticipated features is its focus on youth and female entrepreneurs. A significant percentage of the fund is earmarked for underrepresented innovators, in a deliberate effort to make the deep tech landscape more inclusive. This is a timely move, given that women and youth are increasingly driving innovation in sectors like fintech, healthtech, and agri-tech but remain underserved in terms of funding and support structures.
The timing of the launch is strategic, coming as African governments and institutions seek to diversify economies away from commodities and embrace knowledge-based industries. With climate change, public health, and economic inclusion emerging as regional priorities, DeepTech solutions offer scalable ways to respond to these challenges.
This landmark fund signals a shift from donor-led aid to innovation-led development. It is a call to researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs across Francophone Africa to rise to the challenge of building local solutions with global relevance. By empowering innovators and backing them with resources and institutional support, the DeepTech Innovation Fund has the potential to unlock unprecedented economic and societal impact.
As the fund begins its deployment phase, all eyes will be on the startups and ideas it helps bring to life—each a potential catalyst for Africa’s tech-powered future.
