Nominees for Innovation Prize for Africa 2016 named

The African Innovation Foundation on Monday announced the top 10 nominees for its landmark program – the Innovation Prize for Africa.

Now celebrating its fifth year under the theme “Made in Africa” – the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) is the premier innovation initiative on the African continent – offering a grand share prize of US$150,000 and incentives to spur growth and prosperity in Africa through home-grown solutions.

“In the past 5 years, I have seen innovation grow from a mere buzzword to a sturdy path for African growth in multi-disciplinary industries across the continent. As Africans, we have the talent, potential and clout to solve our own problems with ingenuity too, and the IPA is testimony of this,” said Pauline Mujawamariya Koelbl, IPA Director at the helm of this initiative since its launch in 2011.

The IPA has seen tremendous growth in applications and increasing interest from both innovators and innovation enablers over the years. To date, the program has attracted more than 6,000 innovators from 50 African countries, making it a truly Pan African initiative.

IPA 2016 attracted a record 3,600 plus innovators and received 985 successful submissions from 46 African countries. African ingenuity this year showcases new breakthroughs in malaria and other public health burdens, smart solutions for farmers and dynamic energy initiatives.

The African Innovation Foundation will host the IPA 2016: Made in Africa awards ceremony and its first ever Innovation Ecosystems Connector on 22 and 23 June 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana. This premier innovation event has been endorsed by Seretse Khama Ian Khama – the President of Botswana – who will preside at the Awards Ceremony. Collaborating partners include Botswana’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST), and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH).

The field was dominated by Nigerian innovators – 3 Nigerians and 7 other Africans have been nominated for the Innovation Prize for Africa 2016.

More details on the 10 nominees are available at www.africaninnovation.org.