Deadline: 3 January 2017
Are you an African entrepreneur, academic or inventor with an innovation that could potentially provide an African solution to some of the continent’s every day challenges? Do you have any innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa? Do you have any innovation that clearly illustrates the social and/or economic outcome and impact with regard to African development? If yes, then apply for 2017 Innovation Prize for Africa.
The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) is delighted to announce the launch of its sixth edition of Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) applications with an aim to strengthen African innovation ecosystems through their platforms, whilst spurring growth of innovative, market-driven African solution to African challenges.
The competition offers Africa’s top crop of innovators a share in a grand prize of US$150 000 and additional scalable entrepreneurial opportunities. Enterprises and individuals that have invested in delivering market-oriented solutions for African-led development are especially invited to take part in the competition.
The theme for IPA 2017 is African innovation: Investing in prosperity. In line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 9 which calls on countries to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation, AIF believes that funding streams, investment and resources are critical to obtain a clear value chain for innovation in Africa, contributing to sustainable development.
The IPA honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa. The prize also promotes among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers as well as business opportunities with potential of contributing to sustainable development in Africa.
AIF initiated the IPA to support African innovators by unlocking their potential and catalyzing the African innovation spirit, promoting home-grown solutions for Africa’s prosperity.
Objectives
- Increase Africa’s prosperity through investing in home-grown innovations and entrepreneurship
- Strengthen African innovation ecosystems through our platforms and mobilize a network of innovation enablers, driving business development and cross-collaboration.
- Demonstrate that African ingenuity exists at a Pan African level through honouring outstanding innovations and recognizing their positive impact in Africa and beyond
Award Information
- Special prize for Social Impact Innovation: US$ 25,000
- Grand Prize Winner: US$ 100,000
- Second Prize Winner: US$ 25,000
Focus Areas
- Mobilize African innovators and entrepreneurs who deliver innovative market oriented solutions to African challenges and support them through the IPA awards and post-prize activities;
- Strengthen African innovation ecosystems by mobilizing innovation enablers from all sectors to join hands and create a conducive environment to fuel innovation across Africa.
Thematic Focus
- Agriculture/Agribusiness
- Environment, Energy and Water
- Health and Well being
- Information, Communication and Technologies (ICTS)
- Manufacturing and Service Industries
Expected Outcomes
- Increased commercialization of research and development (R&D) outputs in Africa
- Increased funding of start-ups, adoption of new and emerging technologies and accelerated growth of an innovative and dynamic private sector; and
- Increased economic activity and African-led development that results in lasting impact.
- A strong African innovation ecosystem.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible innovations MUST be by Africans for Africa. Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance for Africa. People who do not hold citizenship of an African country are not eligible to apply. An exception will be made for Africans who hold the citizenship of a non-African country;
- A fully completed application form with a full description of the innovation must accompany each submission; if not, the entry will be disqualified;
- The innovation description should clearly illustrate the social and/or economic outcome and impact with regard to African development and the priority area chosen; it should also be in line with the IPA assessment and selection criteria.
- Application forms and description of the innovation should be in English, French or While the innovations can be conducted in any language including local languages, the submissions should be translated and submitted in English, French or Portuguese;
- Applicants are required to attach a letter of support/endorsement from an institution or an authority with knowledge of their innovation. This will serve as a testimony of how important the innovation is in addressing development challenges faced by Africans.
- Each mandatory question on the application form MUST be answered; if not, the application will be deemed incomplete and disqualified.
- There is no application fee and age limit, but the applicant must be in a position to defend their submission at any stage of the process.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply via given website.
Eligible Countries
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cote d’Ivorie, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
For more information, please visit 2017 Innovation Prize for Africa.
