Apply for AfOx Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program

Overview

Afox HIP is a multi-disciplinary programme to support outstanding African innovators as they build high-growth start-ups with real impact to address health inequality in Africa, improving livelihoods and safeguarding our future. By connecting innovators to the vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at the University of Oxford, AfOx HIP provides access to world-class expertise, tools, and mentorship – helping bold ideas become scalable solutions with lasting impact.

Benefits

AfOx-HIP works with African innovators to equip participants with skills, networks, and confidence to successfully navigate their entrepreneurial journey. Successful applicants are first enrolled in the Phase 1 Virtual Programme – an online training course in innovation and entrepreneurship. After completing Phase 1, selected innovators are invited to Phase 2, where they are awarded an AfOx Innovation Fellowship that includes personalised technical support from Oxford collaborators, advanced training, and a week-long boot camp in Oxford.

Eligibility/Requirements

The applicant must be:

• A national of an African country or having indefinite leave to remain in an African country, for example, holding dual citizenship.
• Domiciled in an African country in which they must be a legal resident.
• Developing the proposed health innovation in their host country.

Applications from individuals or innovators leading small teams are eligible. Being an academic or a researcher is not a requirement. However, a robust foundation in the science or technology behind your innovation is expected.

Solution Eligibility

The solution must be a science-based innovation for disease prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment. This includes vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics and surgical devices.

Venture Eligibility

Your venture must have a legal presence in the domicile country. Founders who do not have a venture (have yet to register a formal legal entity) are eligible. The scheme is not intended to support innovations from well-established businesses, non-profits, consultancies, intermediaries, consortia or industrial research companies.

How to Apply

The application will be done online. 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

Application deadline is March 18, 2026, at 23:59 GMT.