Kickstarting businesses and development in emerging markets
The lab of tomorrow is one of the programmes offered by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to promote collaboration with actors in the private sector.
As of January 2024, all programmes will operate under the umbrella brand Partners in Transformation. This new title emphasises the partnership between the private sector and development cooperation, with the shared goal of achieving a social and
environmental transformation in BMZ’s partner countries.
The programmes work with companies, trade unions, chambers of commerce, associations and other interest groups.
Find out more at Private sector | BMZ (German only)
📢 Manuel disponibles en français!
Our track record
The lab of tomorrow has been the programme of choice by GIZ projects, the Austrian and the Swiss Development Agencies as well as companies to solve specific development challenges all over the world.
Your opportunities
Learn how you can benefit from the lab of tomorrow programme.
Solve your development challenge
The lab of tomorrow programme activates the private sector to achieve SDG impact. Your advantages of initiating a programme include:
- Let the private sector solve your development challenge – we help you identify unmet needs with business potential.
- As an initiator, you steer the programme and bring in all the people necessary for success.Â
- Benefit from our network and gain access to business partners, development agencies, investors, mentors and policy makers.
- The impact created by the lab of tomorrow programme goes beyond development cooperation project lifespans.
Develop your business in emerging markets
Expand into emerging markets together with new business partners! Your benefits of participating in the programme include:
- Business case sourcing: We identify business opportunities in emerging markets for you to choose from.
- Participant sourcing & matching: We match you with relevant local and international companies in interdisciplinary teams.
- As a team, you co-create a new product or service and benefit from business development coaching.
- Partner network access: you gain access to business partners, investors, mentors and policy makers.
Invest in solutions and support innovations
Gain access to impact investment opportunities in various markets and sectors! Your benefits in supporting our ventures include:
- Be the first to know about investment opportunities in untapped markets.
- You become part of our strong network of innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Receive access to invest in our ventures at different stages. We invite you to pitch sessions, demo days and share our dealbook.
- Bring in companies from your portfolio and offer them interesting business development opportunities.
How it works
Find out how sustainable and profitable business models are created in a lab of tomorrow programme and what’s in it for you.
Challenge in spotlight
Take a glance at our most recent lab of tomorrow business opportunities.
Biodiversity pays off digitally in Namibia
Ready to create impact?
Currently running challenges
Take a look at our currently running challenges and the potential business opportunities they present for you.
Biodiversity pays off digitally in Namibia
This challenge is in phase: Sustainable Business
How might we better protect the biodiversity in Namibia by creating digital, biodiversity-based businesses in conservation landscapes and by capitalizing on the local population’s expertise and resources?
Biodiversity and conservation areas are increasingly under pressure due to climate change, poaching and human-wild-life conflicts. The economic pressure has further risen during the COVID-19 crisis, as tourism has significantly decreased and Namibians in rural areas have dramatically less income. The 16th lab of tomorrow programme seeks to both provide incentives for the sustainable use of biodiversity and diversify income streams for local communities.
Partners
01
Understand
Business Opportunities
02
Ideate Solutions
03
Incubate business
5 ventures successfully entered the Incubation Phase.04
Sustainable Business
AfriArtsy
Afri Artsy is a global marketplace for African art to match the huge global demand for ethically produced artisanal products. Individual and retail customers have the opportunity to interact with the work of local artisans to receive tailor-made products.
Skytrip
Skytrip enables a digital travel experience with tours of Namibia for customers from all over the world. As a technology platform for local suppliers, the business model is to mount 360 camera rigs on vehicles and at waterholes.
Better than flowers
Better than flowers is an online gifting platform that solves the problem of picking out yet another gift while addressing pressing conservation issues in Namibia. The platform promotes integration with local communities and direct collaboration with landscape conservationists.
Clipspringer
AfriBox
AfriBox offers a physical and digital adventure delivered in a box to the customer's doorstep worldwide. Integrated with digital aspects such as a game, VR content and physical components, AfriBox offers a unique, exclusive and authentic engagement in Africa that directly supports local communities and conservation areas.
More information
Downloads
Biodiversity pays off digitally in Namibia
This challenge is in phase: Sustainable Business
How might we better protect the biodiversity in Namibia by creating digital, biodiversity-based businesses in conservation landscapes and by capitalizing on the local population’s expertise and resources?
Biodiversity and conservation areas are increasingly under pressure due to climate change, poaching and human-wild-life conflicts. The economic pressure has further risen during the COVID-19 crisis, as tourism has significantly decreased and Namibians in rural areas have dramatically less income. The 16th lab of tomorrow programme seeks to both provide incentives for the sustainable use of biodiversity and diversify income streams for local communities.
Partners
01
Understand
Business Opportunities
02
Ideate Solutions
03
Incubate business
5 ventures successfully entered the Incubation Phase.04
Sustainable Business
AfriArtsy
Afri Artsy is a global marketplace for African art to match the huge global demand for ethically produced artisanal products. Individual and retail customers have the opportunity to interact with the work of local artisans to receive tailor-made products.
Skytrip
Skytrip enables a digital travel experience with tours of Namibia for customers from all over the world. As a technology platform for local suppliers, the business model is to mount 360 camera rigs on vehicles and at waterholes.
Better than flowers
Better than flowers is an online gifting platform that solves the problem of picking out yet another gift while addressing pressing conservation issues in Namibia. The platform promotes integration with local communities and direct collaboration with landscape conservationists.
Clipspringer
AfriBox
AfriBox offers a physical and digital adventure delivered in a box to the customer's doorstep worldwide. Integrated with digital aspects such as a game, VR content and physical components, AfriBox offers a unique, exclusive and authentic engagement in Africa that directly supports local communities and conservation areas.
More information
Downloads
Our partners
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