DBN identified a need to provide financial support to entrepreneurs with original business concepts and technology that may not have been fully tested and harnessed, but that have potential to deliver new or improved products and services to the market. To this end, the Bank established an Innovation Fund through which it avails finance to entrepreneurs who meet the stated criteria related to its characterisation of innovation and in terms of its overall investment guidelines. The purpose of the Innovation Fund is to foster implementation of concepts that will enable delivery of new products and services to the market.
Project identification
The DBN will identify projects that meet stated criteria related to its characterisation of innovation and in terms of its lending guidelines, using the following guidelines: The invention of a new product or services; or The improvement of a new product or service; or A new process of adding value to a Namibian-sourced raw material. The products, services or processes should be able to find a market or use in the local or export market. There is no application form, for this product line. Requests can be made in writing to DBN and such requests must be accompanied by a business plan. Further information may be requested by DBN.