The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is now accepting applications. The Africa Prize encourages ambitious and talented sub-Saharan African engineers from all disciplines to apply their skills to develop scalable solutions to local challenges, highlighting the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development. Crucial commercialisation support is awarded to a shortlist of innovative applicants through a six-month period of training and mentoring.
Following this period of mentorship, finalists are invited to present at an event held in Africa and a winner is selected to receive £25,000 along with runners-up, who are each awarded £10,000. A shortlist of applicants will be identified to receive a package of mentoring and training. The mentoring and training will be structured to give participants the skills and knowledge to:
•further develop their technology
• strengthen and develop their existing business plans
• successfully communicate their innovations through pitching
• forge links with potential partners, investors and customers
• move towards commercialisation
The training period will run from approximately Monday 5 November 2018 to Friday 28 June 2019. This includes:
• Three week-long immersion sessions, taking place in Africa and the UK
• Remote group and one-on-one training and mentoring, taking place on a regular basis via Skype, telephone calls and webinars
The Judging Panel will then identify four finalists, who will be invited to pitch at the final event in Africa in June 2019 (taking place during the third immersion week).
•The prizes will be awarded following an assessment of the pitches by the Judging Panel.
•The winner will receive £25,000, and three runners-up with receive £10,000 each.
•The remaining shortlisted applicants will also be invited to display their innovations at an exhibition at this event.
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is an initiative of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), it aims to stimulate and reward engineering entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa. The 2018 edition was won by Brian Gitta for Matibabu which addresses malaria disease management by offering affordable, and early Diagnosis.
Click here to apply.
Click here for more details.
