ECA announces 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa competition

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) are giving another opportunity to innovators in Africa to win a $150,000 prize money in the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) competition. The organisers today July 4, 2012 issued a call for entries from innovators across the continent.

The 2012 edition was won by Egyptian Mohamed Sanad. He won the $100,000 cash prize at a ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March.

The IPA, the ECA says acknowledges and encourages the endeavors of innovators on the African continent.

“The prize 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 potentials of contributing to sustainable development in Africa,” the organisers say.

According to the ECA and AIF the awards aim among other things to:

·    mobilize leaders from all sectors to fuel African innovation

·    promote innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest through the competition

·    promote science, technology and engineering as rewarding, exciting and noble career options among the youth in Africa by profiling success applicants

·    encourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

The areas open for competition include Manufacturing and Service Industry; Agriculture/agribusiness; Information Communications Technologies (ICTs); Health and Wellbeing;  Environment and Energy and Water.

The registration deadline for the 2013 prize is set for October 31, 2012 with no possibility for extensions, the organisers say.

For details about entry requirements click here.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi