The Africa Oxford Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship Scheme (AfOx-HIP) is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort. Led by the Africa Oxford Initiative at the University of Oxford, AfOx-HIP is a multidisciplinary platform supporting African innovators to develop impactful solutions to the continent’s health challenges by connecting research, entrepreneurship, and industry.
The programme is open to innovators working across any discipline and technology area, including outside traditional life sciences or engineering fields, provided the solution addresses disease prevention, diagnosis, management, or treatment. This includes innovations such as vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, and surgical technologies.
Priority will be given to solutions with strong potential for transforming health delivery in Africa, particularly those focused on:
- Reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases
- Optimising diagnostic and prognostic tests for African contexts
- Developing novel diagnostic tools to increase resilience to endemic diseases
- Preventing, diagnosing, or treating zoonotic diseases
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Frequently Asked Questions document before applying, as it contains the application form link, detailed guidance, and eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all three levels of eligibility:
1. Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a national of an African country or have indefinite leave to remain in an African country
- Be legally resident and domiciled in an African country
- Be developing the proposed innovation in their host country
Applications from individuals or innovators leading small teams are welcome. Being an academic is not required, but applicants must demonstrate a strong scientific or technological foundation for their innovation.
Female and under-represented innovators are particularly encouraged to apply.
2. Solution Eligibility
The proposed solution must be science-based and aimed at disease prevention, diagnosis, management, or treatment, including vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, or surgical tools.
Early-stage ideas are eligible in specific categories, while prototype-stage or more advanced innovations with scaling potential are strongly encouraged.
3. Venture Eligibility
- Ventures must have a legal presence in the country of domicile, though founders who have not yet registered a company are eligible.
- The scheme does not support innovations from well-established businesses, consultancies, NGOs, consortiums, or industrial research companies.
- Student projects, including master’s dissertations or capstone work, are not accepted.
Training Programme
Selected innovators will participate in a fully virtual Innovation and Entrepreneurship training programme designed for busy professionals. The course requires approximately 8–10 hours per week and includes:
- Entrepreneurial thinking and venture acceleration
- Translational research
- Creative problem-solving
- Business with purpose
- Weekly interactive workshops and group work
Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate from the Africa Oxford Initiative. Projects with the highest development potential may later be invited to apply for AfOx Innovation Scholarships, which provide personalised mentorship and technical collaboration opportunities in Oxford.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through the AfOx online portal by:
Deadline: 18 March 2026 at 23:59 GMT
Applicants must ensure they complete all required steps and press “Submit” before the deadline; incomplete submissions will not be considered. Successful applicants will receive confirmation by email.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified of the outcome by 31 May 2026.
Applications must be submitted in English.
Required materials include:
- Completed online application form
- Reference letter from an affiliated institution or professional contact
- Visual demonstration of the innovation (maximum two-page PDF schematic or design; optional demonstration video)
- Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest
Further Information
Applicants should review the AfOx-HIP Frequently Asked Questions document for full guidance and eligibility checks before applying. Questions not addressed in the materials may be directed to the AfOx Team via the programme contact email listed on the official website.
The Africa Oxford Health Innovation Programme 2026 offers African innovators a fully virtual entrepreneurship and health innovation training opportunity to develop high-impact solutions for disease prevention and treatment across the continent. Open to individuals and small teams developing science-based health technologies, the programme prioritises scalable innovations addressing Africa’s pressing health challenges. Applications close on 18 March 2026, with results communicated by the end of May 2026.
For more opportunities, click here.
