Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has launched the first edition of its Innovation Challenge at the 2019 Transform Africa Summit held in Kigali.
Through this initiative, Africa50 will crowdsource innovative solutions to help increase access to high-speed internet in under-served areas in Africa.
The call is open for ICT developers, innovators, engineers, entrepreneurs to submit workable solutions, via an online platform, to be assessed by the Africa50 investment team and its partners.
The winning solutions will receive cash prizes and/or will be considered for project development funding. Projects will be rolled-out in Rwanda as the pilot country, with the objective to scale them up to other countries in Africa
Despite significant progress in recent years, 75% of Africans still do not have access to the internet. In today’s digital age, they are missing out on one of the best ways to access knowledge, social services, and economic opportunities.
Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé said “Africa needs to join the fourth industrial revolution, and we are ready to contribute by promoting innovation. Rwanda, one of our shareholders, is a great example, having developed a thriving ICT sector through enlightened leadership and an enabling regulatory environment.
On the eve of the #TAS2019, join the conversation on the role of #ICT and #innovation on #Africa's #development @RealSmartAfrica #A50innovationchallenge pic.twitter.com/3K1OHmz1if
— Africa50 (@Africa50Infra) May 13, 2019
“We see synergies between our Innovation Challenge and our co-development of Kigali Innovation City, a major tech hub. In fact, Rwanda is an ideal pilot country for implementing the solutions we hope to find. We can validate the concepts and technologies there before rolling them out in other countries.”
For this Challenge, Africa50 will exceptionally consider projects at the pilot stage, with smaller funding needs, with the intention of scaling them up into bankable projects with broad impact.
Africa50 is implementing the challenge in partnership with DysruptUs, a firm specializing in the organization of innovation challenges to solve global social and economic needs, and with Informa, leading international events and knowledge group.
Through the platform, the solutions can be submitted worldwide.
Individuals and organizations with a strong passion for developing innovative solutions are encouraged to apply. Submitted solutions to the Challenge will be reviewed by a group of experts in ICT, investment, and international development.
Finalists will be invited to present their solutions at AfricaCom in November 2019 in Cape Town.
Applications are open from 14 May until 8 September 2019.
