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)

The lab of tomorrow programme for sustainable business co-creation

The lab of tomorrow is a business development programme to solve specific challenges in emerging markets. It inspires European and local businesses to jointly create new products and services that generate long-term impact on the ground.

More Info

The lot drives business
We bring access to new markets, local expertise and business opportunities in developing countries
The lot builds relevant networks
We match businesses from the EU and emerging markets to co-create and co-own products
The lot creates social impact
The new products and services contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

📢 Manuel disponibles en français!

toolkit & manual in French

Your opportunities

Learn how you can benefit from the lab of tomorrow programme.

Solve your development challenge

Initiate lot programme

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.
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.

Initiate lot programme

Develop your business in emerging markets

Participate in lot programme

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.

Participate in lot programme

Invest in solutions and support innovations

Invest in lot ventures

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.

Invest in lot ventures

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.

How it works

Challenge in spotlight

Take a glance at our most recent lab of tomorrow business opportunities.

LOT

2

food-waste | kenya

Food not waste in Kenya

More Details

Ready to create impact?

Propose a challenge

Currently running challenges

Take a look at our currently running challenges and the potential business opportunities they present for you.

Food-waste | Kenya

LOT

2

Food not waste in Kenya

This challenge is in phase: Sustainable Business

How might we solve the food waste problem in Kenya?

Up to 40% of each container of fruit or vegetable destined for export from Kenya to mostly the European Union is 'wasted', even though many in the country are still malnourished. There are two main reasons for food waste: 'Cosmetic' specifications and order cancellations or last-minute adjustments. Both are debited to European retailers.

01

Understand

Sub-Sahara Africa has the highest potential for addressing food losses and food waste as it has the highest per capita losses of crops in developing regions. The impact of this challenge is big: horticulture exports make up 23% of Kenya‘s gross domestic product (GDP). The sector employs 4.3 million people directly and supports further 3.5 million indirectly through trade and related practices. After flowers, fruits and vegetables are the second and third most important exported goods.

Scroll down to our downloads to learn more about the food waste problem in Kenya in our insights report that includes scientific research, interviews and on-site visits conducted by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa in 2016.

02

Ideate Solutions

36

Participants

16

Companies

4

Ideas developed

2

Proven Business Models

03

Incubate business

2 out of 2 ventures passed this phase.

04

Sustainable Business

Wheeling Fruits

Wheeling Fruits offers mobile food processing units that dry and ground surplus food in order to improve durability and transportability.

Go to venture

More information

Contact

lab-of-tomorrow@giz.de

Further links

The 3rd annual Africa food security conference and agri-exhibition 2015

Downloads

Food and nutrition security - challenges of post-harvest handling in Kenya by J. Kimiywe(PDF | 1 MB)

AFSCAND report 2015 by Mary Njeri Karanu(PDF | 0 MB)

lot 2 - Background paper on food waste in Kenya(PDF | 0 MB)

Food-waste | Kenya

LOT

2

Food not waste in Kenya

This challenge is in phase: Sustainable Business

How might we solve the food waste problem in Kenya?

Up to 40% of each container of fruit or vegetable destined for export from Kenya to mostly the European Union is 'wasted', even though many in the country are still malnourished. There are two main reasons for food waste: 'Cosmetic' specifications and order cancellations or last-minute adjustments. Both are debited to European retailers.

01

Understand

Sub-Sahara Africa has the highest potential for addressing food losses and food waste as it has the highest per capita losses of crops in developing regions. The impact of this challenge is big: horticulture exports make up 23% of Kenya‘s gross domestic product (GDP). The sector employs 4.3 million people directly and supports further 3.5 million indirectly through trade and related practices. After flowers, fruits and vegetables are the second and third most important exported goods.

Scroll down to our downloads to learn more about the food waste problem in Kenya in our insights report that includes scientific research, interviews and on-site visits conducted by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce for Eastern Africa in 2016.