The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is calling for applications for this years competition which is open to entrepreneurs and engineers in sub-Saharan Africa who have developed an innovative product or service that can address local challenges, with a focus on sustainable social and economic development.

An initiative of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is the continent’s biggest award dedicated to engineering innovation. The aim of the prize is to support ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development.  

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Whether you have an engineering background or not, you may apply for the prize inasmuch as you have engineering-related innovations.

The top 16 applicants will be selected to participate in the eight-month program. Then, shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a full business plan and updates on their business from the first period of training in May 2022 which will be reviewed by a Judging Panel.

All shortlisted applicants will showcase their innovations at an exhibition at the final event in June/July 2022. Four finalists will have a chance to pitch in front of a live audience and the Africa Prize judges.

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Finalists stand a chance to receive:

Rigorous training sessions to help participants strengthen and develop their existing business models; successfully pitch their innovations, among other things;

Mentorship support from Fellows of the Academy and its network

Opportunities to travel to London and/or African cities for in-person training or events

Access to the Africa Prize alumni community, which continues to receive support from the Academy through invitations to further events, small grant funding, and follow-on training.

The winner of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation will receive £25,000 while three runners-up will receive £10,000 each.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must be citizens of any country in sub-Saharan Africa;

For teams of two or more, the lead applicant must be a citizen of a country in sub-Saharan Africa

S/he must be over the age of 18 by 1 September 2021

The innovation must be based in a country in sub-Saharan Africa

Applicants must have an engineering innovation, though are not required to be an engineering graduate or student

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Applicants must provide a letter of support from a university, innovation hub, research institution, or previous incubator program.

Applicants should have developed, and be in the early stages of commercializing, an engineering innovation that:

(a) Will socially and environmentally impact countries in the SSA region

(b) Has a potential to be replicated and scaled-up;

(c) Has a realistic business plan with strong commercial viability.

Applicants’ innovation can be any new product, technology or service, based on research in engineering which includes but is not limited to the following fields:

Agricultural Technology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Design Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, ICT, Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Medical engineering and other related fields.

Entries close on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. To apply for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2022, prospective applicants are advised to visit www.raeng.org.uk/login.

 

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry