Cameroon Awards CFAF 70m to 35 Local Innovation Projects

Cameroon has awarded CFAF 70 million to 35 locally developed projects to help their promoters move from prototypes toward commercial production. The funding was granted through the Small and Medium-size Enterprise Promotion Agency (SMEPA) under the sixth edition of the Prototyping Support Fund, known as Fonds-Proto. The winners were announced in Yaoundé on August 25.

The program combines grants with technical support covering prototype development, business formalization, intellectual property protection and the production of pre-series for market testing.

According to figures presented by SMEPA at the ceremony, the 2026 edition received 2,919 online applications, including 1,495 complete submissions. A first jury shortlisted 51 projects before a grand jury selected 35 for funding.

The awards ranged from CFAF 1.5 million to CFAF 7 million. The top five projects received CFAF 7 million, CFAF 4.5 million, CFAF 3.5 million, CFAF 3 million and CFAF 2.5 million, respectively. Projects ranked sixth to 10th received CFAF 2 million each, while those placed 11th to 35th received CFAF 1.5 million each. Two additional prizes of CFAF 1 million were awarded to a woman and a young innovator.

The top award went to Djoumene Lagloire of the Littoral Region for a project to establish a semi-industrial footwear production unit using recycled tires and locally sourced leather.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Minister Achille Bassilekin III said the selected projects would receive support at different stages as they move toward production, including assistance with completing prototypes, formalizing businesses, protecting intellectual property and producing pre-series.

SMEPA Director General Jean Marie Louis Badga said the fund evaluates projects based on their relevance, usefulness, feasibility, profitability and potential to generate growth or employment. The program is intended to help innovators move beyond prototype development toward market-ready products and businesses.

Since its launch in 2020, Fonds-Proto has supported the development of 71 prototypes and the creation of 47 SMEs, according to figures presented by SMEPA. Selected businesses can also be formalized through Cameroon’s Enterprise Creation Formalities Centres.

From Prototypes to Market

Fonds-Proto was introduced as a public seed-support mechanism aimed at developing locally designed products and services into commercially viable businesses. The program brings together entrepreneurs, investors, banks, public institutions and local authorities and also promotes productive innovation and collaborative research.

Among this year’s beneficiaries is Kamazong Fosso Willi Zita, who developed a locally manufactured neem-oil pressing machine. She said the grant would be used to improve an existing prototype and prepare the equipment for use by producers in Cameroon’s Far North, where neem seeds are often pressed manually.

Jato Mark Bimi also received support for a blockchain-based QR traceability system for sunflower products. The system is designed to allow buyers to trace products back to farmers and access information on planting, harvesting and processing.

The awards come as Cameroon seeks to increase the share of locally processed and manufactured goods in its economy. Data from the National Institute of Statistics show that pre-tax turnover among modern-sector enterprises rose 12.7% in 2024, up from 0.9% growth in 2023. The survey covered 1,129 enterprises accounting for 88% of turnover and 75% of permanent employment in the sector.

Mercy Fosoh