RAMP is an internal accelerator program to equip Alliance / CGIAR scientists with the skills and support needed to translate scientific discoveries into market-viable solutions that create impact-at-scale.
Call for Applications: RAMP - Accelerate
The Call for Applications to RAMP - Accelerate is NOW OPEN
Apply on Venture Space before 02 May 2025
NOW OPEN
The global agri-food system is facing unprecedented challenges.
CGIAR scientific research has enormous potential to address these issues, but many innovations do not reach their potential scale. RAMP aims to address this by equipping scientists with entrepreneurial skills, connecting them with partners, and building market-driven scaling strategies to ensure their innovations reach impact-at-scale.
A Guided Pipeline
RAMP will draw on existing innovation across the Alliance / CGIAR, that if better connected, has immense potential for market-driven impact-at-scale
RAMP is a guided pathway through three stages of learning – Discover, Launch, and Accelerate. RAMP aims to act as a funnel, beginning with introductory-level learning suitable for any CGIAR scientist, then progressing toward more advanced and intensive programming for the innovations best-suited to scale via market pathways.
RAMP – Discover
Completed Autumn 2024
Outcomes
⦁ Understand different pathways for sustaining and scaling your impact
⦁ Identify new audiences for your research
Details
⦁ 3 options for cohorts through the end of 2024
⦁ 2x expert-led interactive workshops (1.5-2h each)
⦁ Virtual workshop series open to all Alliance/CGIAR scientists, even those without a specific innovation in mind
RAMP – Launch
Now Open: February 2025
Outcomes
⦁ Explore a range of financially sustainable models to generate impact-at-scale, determine if they are the right fit for your research
⦁ Conduct early-stage market validation
⦁ Gain key entrepreneurial skills
Details
⦁ Cohort in early 2025
⦁ Series of 4x expert-led interactive training sessions (2h each), presentation with detailed feedback
⦁ Open to all Alliance / CGIAR Scientists with a particular innovation for which they’d like to explore market pathways
RAMP – Accelerate
Coming Soon: Mid-2025
Outcomes
⦁ Validate a market-focused innovation with potential customers, partners, and other key stakeholders
⦁ Develop a market-oriented model that allows you to sustain and scale your impact [spinout, social venture, licensing, joint development partnership, etc.]
⦁ Dedicated mentorship and bespoke coaching
⦁ Positioned to raise funding or investment, pitch to customers or partners, or build team for further development
Details
⦁ Mid-2025, 6-month accelerator with in-person bootcamp and hybrid curriculum
⦁ 40h+ expert-led training sessions, extensive market validation, pitch practice, and 1:1 support
⦁ Project partners from the agri-food industry offering opportunities for testing, partnership, team building, and investments
⦁ Open to 7 scientists/teams with high-market-potential innovations, apply to receive $$K to support participation [e.g., time buyout, and/or budget for business development, based on application]
Partner in RAMP-Accelerate
By the end of RAMP-Accelerate, the seven accelerated innovations shall be well positioned for impact with a clear go-to-market strategy; such as matchmaking with industry partners, spinout team building, investment for further development, and more. For this reason, working with industry partners across the agri-food value chain, in different geographies, and from a range of sectors is critical to the mission of RAMP.
Agri-Food Industry Leaders across Venture Capital, Accelerators, Corporations, Public Sector, Academia, and Philanthropy can have a pivotal role in RAMP’s Accelerate phase:
- Influence Priority Areas and Select Innovations:
- Shaping the Future of the Agri-Food Sector: Have a hand in determining the cohort of selected innovations
- Access Global and Science-Driven Innovation Ecosystems:
- Recognition and Thought Leadership: Feature as a key voice at events amongst leading scientists, industry, and more
- Connect Directly with Top Scientists and their Innovations
- Early Access to Market-Ready Innovations: Get a head start with opportunities to test, refine, and mentor emerging innovations
Collaboration between scientific organizations and the agri-food industry offers an attractive alternative to soley investing in internal R&D units, increasiningly preferable for many reasons; including the access to cutting-edge research, resource efficiency, emerging talent, risk mitigation, and enhanced market adoption. These collaborations not only drive innovation but also ensure that new technologies are effectively integrated into agricultural practices, benefiting the broader agri-food sector by enhancing their uptake and deployment at scale.
Open Cohorts
Applications open now until May 02 2025
Join RAMP-Accelerate for funding, training, and industry connections for your innovation!
Do you have an innovation you want to take to the next level?
Apply now for RAMP (Research and Market Pathways)’s, Accelerate: a six month cohort-based accelerator including an in-person bootcamp, business-oriented training, industry collaboration, and dedicated funding for seven selected innovations.
Accelerate is targeting innovations developed in, or co-developed with, the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT* that align with one or more of the following priority areas determined jointly with agri-food industry leaders: Digital, Data, and Decision Making ; Crop Protection and Improvement ; Midstream Technologies ; and Capacity Building and Services.
*If your CGIAR innovation doesn’t meet this condition, check out the Terms of Reference below for how you can still join
What does RAMP-Accelerate offer innovations?
- Project Funding: The cohort of seven selected innovation will receive a portion according to their application proposal of the total 250,000 USD pool of funding to compensate their participation in the project (time buyout), support market validation activities, assets, and more
- Acceleration Bootcamp and Curriculum: a mix of expert coaching, hands-on workshops, and more to prepare innovations for the market – including a fully-funded in-person three-day bootcamp intensive in Cali, Colombia (1-3 July) to kick-off the training and an in-person Demo Day (first week December)
- Industry and Investor Engagement: Direct engagement with investors, corporate partners, and technology transfer experts, ensuring alignment with industry needs and opening the gateway to potential commercial partnerships and the exchange of market knowledge, insights, industry best practices and investment
There is much more to learn about RAMP-Accelerate: for full details on eligibility, timeline, and program contents, please consult the Terms of Reference.
Apply before May 02, 2025 at 09:00 Central European Summer Time: https://venturespace.cgiar.org/application/new?program=ramp-accelerate
Previous Cohorts
If you registered to RAMP-Discover or RAMP-Launch cohorts previously offered, access the Learning Management System via the unique account link in your inbox to find all session materials; including slides, recordings, and toolkits.
Completed: February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3 2025
- Early-stage Market Validation: Testing ideas with potential customers and external stakeholders
- Business Model Development: Exploring a number of sustainable models to support further development and delivery of the innovation
- Expert Feedback: Presenting the innovation for detailed feedback and the next steps to progress their idea through market pathways
If you registered for this cohort, check your email for RAMP LMS details to access session content
Completed: Monday, 4 November and Thursday, 7 November 2024
If you registered for this cohort, check your email for RAMP LMS details to access session content
Completed: Monday, 25 November and Thursday, 28 November 2024
If you registered for this cohort, check your email for RAMP LMS details to access session content
Completed: Monday, 2 December and Thursday, 5 December 2024
If you registered for this cohort, check your email for RAMP LMS details to access session content
Eligibility and FAQs
While it is not mandatory that each phase is a prerequisite to the next, progression is recommended as the three phases build on each other.
RAMP Discover: Any scientist from the Alliance or another CGIAR research center may sign up; no requirement to have a specific innovation in mind.
RAMP Launch: Any scientist from the Alliance or another CGIAR research center may apply (light screening, dependent on number of applicants); recommended to join the with a specific innovation in mind for which you would like to conduct early-stage market validation.
RAMP Accelerate: Individual Scientist or teams may apply with a specific market-potential innovation that has been developed or co-developed in the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT * (Necessary for the disbursement of funding). Priority areas regarding the types of innovations sought will be defined according to consultations with agri-food industry partners. See FAQs for further information on the selection process.
Watch the RAMP Kickoff Event
Blog: The Journey of RAMP so Far
Check out our blog on the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT about the results of phase one, Discover, and where we are headed next
Meet the Team
CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform
The CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) is the venture space that leverages CGIAR’s legacy in research and innovation to co-design, accelerate, and de-risk the development and deployment of science-based technology-driven solutions for sustainable agriculture and climate action.
A4IP pioneers entrepreneurial models that bridge research products from lab to market, create demand for CGIAR science, and strengthen its function in the innovation ecosystem. The initiative plays a catalytic role for entrepreneurial scientists, start-ups, and other strategic partners driving agri-, food-, and climate-tech innovation to make our agrifood systems healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable. A4IP is an initiative powered by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; a CGIAR research center.
Kindling
Kindling has long-standing experience in building innovation ecosystems, creating impact-focused, scalable spinouts and start-ups based on research, and running accelerator programs for researchers at world-leading institutions. They developed the ARC Accelerator, the world’s first social science, humanities, and arts accelerator, and run a nation-wide, multi-stage catalyst program for all UK research organizations.
By working with 300+ innovation projects and training 500+ researchers from over 80 different research organizations, Kindling has developed unique methodologies and innovative tools that allow them to engage a broad range of researchers and equip them with the skills to use market pathways.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or want to get in touch, email us at innovations@cgiar.org or leave a message here.
