To assist youth-led innovations: Gov’t opens applications for prototype support fund.

The initiative, now in its sixth edition, is implemented by the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Promotion Agency, SMEPA, and operates under the patronage of the President of the Republic. It has as aim to support young innovators and entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into viable businesses.

According to the ministry’s statement, applications opened on July 20, and will run until August 13, 2026. The programme targets Cameroonian nationals aged between 18 and 35, whether residing in the country or abroad, who have inventions, innovations or business ideas they wish to develop into enterprises. Legal entities established under Cameroonian law are also eligible to apply.

According to the ministry, the fund is designed to facilitate the early-stage development of innovative projects by supporting the rapid prototyping of products and services. 

The initiative covers projects across different sectors of the economy, provided they are legal and intended to be implemented in Cameroon. The ministry adds that priority will be given to projects operating in growth-driving sectors linked to the objectives of the National Development Strategy, NDS30.

Eligibility, requirements

According to MINPMEESA, applicants must be Cameroonian citizens or entities governed by Cameroonian law. The ministry said individual applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application and remain within the age limit when support is awarded. 

It added that applicants are required to register through APME’s platform and submit a completed application package within the prescribed deadline. The ministry stated that project ideas may come from any field of entrepreneurship and any sector of activity, provided they comply with national laws and regulations.

MINPMEESA added that the application package must include a project summary, presentation of the project team and partners, project study, market analysis, investment and financing plan, as well as proof of participation in coaching or business support programmes where applicable. The ministry further encouraged the attachment of additional support documents to strengthen the assessment of the project.

According to the ministry, applications can be submitted online through APME platforms or physically delivered to the APME headquarters in Tsinga, Yaounde, along Sultan Njoya Boulevard, or at any of the agency’s Business Creation Facilitation Centres.

The ministry stressed that all applications must be received no later than August 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. it urged interested candidates to access the call for projects through APME’s online portal and complete the participation form available under the section dedicated to the 2026 Prototype Support Fund call for projects.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3861 of Tuesday July 28, 2026