Deadline: 30-Sep-22
The Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge is now open for applications.
KeNIA, the Kenya National Innovation Agency, has the mandate to develop and manage the National Innovation System. Working with partners, KeNIA strengthens the networks of actors to promote innovation and enterprise development out of research and ideas. Africa Earth Observation Challenge 2022 is proud to have KeNIA as a partner.
This is the sixth iteration of the challenge, which aims to drive entrepreneurial activity in the African space industry and promote awareness of the value of Earth Observation to a broad community, and in multiple applicable sectors such as water and food security, mining applications, logistics, insurance, and many more.
Open Innovation is a cutting-edge business practice whereby companies and organisations acknowledge that they cannot employ all the smart people and experts to solve all their challenges or needs in-house. It is the process of going outside an organisation’s four walls to find or inspire new innovations, talents, and technologies.
Benefits
- Cash Prizes: For the first time the Africa Earth Observation challenge will be awarding cash prizes to finalists.
- Incubation & Mentorship: 4-month online incubation and virtual mentorship.
- Media Publicity: Challenge finalists will have the opportunity to feature in interviews and editorials by Challenge Media Partner Africa.com
- Technical Support: Technical support will be available to the Challenge participants from the leading EOD specialising organisations.
Why Now?
- The African space-tech sector is one of the fastest-growing markets globally, but it is still significantly underexploited. This sector represents a massive investment opportunity.
- The African Union has identified earth observation as a critical resource that must be leveraged in achieving Africa’s development goals.
- One of the best ways to grow this sector is through an open innovation challenge.
Outcomes
- To identify the most promising innovators, entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses across Africa and develop them into sustainable companies
- To develop Africa’s geospatial readiness so that African businesses can service African demand for geospatial intelligence
Eligibility Criteria
Open Innovation is a cutting-edge business practice whereby companies and organisations acknowledge that they cannot employ all the smart people and experts to solve all their challenges or needs in-house. It is the process of going outside an organisation’s four walls to find or inspire new innovations, talents, and technologies.
Criteria
Submission from businesses in any and all industries are encouraged, as long as they meet the following criteria:
- Business Location: The Challenge is open to businesses across the African continent
- EOD Application
- All submissions must demonstrate a clear application of EOD
- Some generic examples in the following industries: The use of EOD with Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens the doors for possible solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. For this challenge, how can EOD be utilised to solve a problem or provide improvements in climate change adaptation and mitigation systems such as early warning systems, weather forecast, amongst others.
- Smart cities: Through employing EOD and spacebased data and services, such as big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop smart infrastructure, which is key to the ‘smart’ transformation of cities. For this challenge, how can EOD be utilised to solve a problem or provide improvements in smart city developments to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation? to the right is nonexhaustive possible application
- Mining: Innovative use of EOD and Space based technologies is a major leap to enable the mining industry to use current Earth Observation services and products efforts in mining sector.
- Logistics: Innovative use of EOD and Space based technologies can help the logistics sector to become more reliable and allow increased innovation opportunities
- Agriculture: EOD and space-based technologies can contribute to both, providing and supporting both long and shortterm humanitarian response to food crises to improve food security thus, increasing the sustainability of food systems.particularly small-scale farmers.
- Business Development Level
- Early stage funding/angel investor ready businesses
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
- Business Readiness Level 1/2/3 (BRL)
For more information, visit https://eochallenge.africa/enter/