IPA 2018 unveils US$185,000 finalists
The African Innovation Foundation
(AIF) (www.AfricanInnovation.org) has announced its top 10 nominees for its
prestigious Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) (InnovationPrizeforAfrica.org)
2018 awards.
This year’s call for applications
with its theme, African Innovation: Investing in Inclusive Innovation
Ecosystems, attracted more than 3,000 applications from 52 African countries.
Building on the AIF mandate,
submissions this year demonstrate significant breakthroughs in ICT,
agri-business, public health and the environment/ energy sectors to improve the
lives and economic prospects of Africans.
According to Walter Fust, Chairman,
AIF, “Now in its seventh year running, we have witnessed multi-million-dollar
businesses emerging from the IPA initiative, with health, environment/energy
and agricultural innovations leaving imprints across the African continent and
beyond. Our theme this year prompts the need for increased collaboration
between government, business, industry, innovation enablers and the community
to further realise African prosperity and economic freedom.”
The IPA initiative has grown from
strengthen to strength mobilizing, rewarding and honoring top African
innovators whilst also building strategic partnerships with innovation enablers
to strengthen innovation ecosystems in Africa.
To date, AIF has supported 55 IPA winners/nominees with US$ 1 million+ and mobilized 9,400+ innovators from all
55 African countries. AIF endorsement and exposure generated through IPA have
seen past winners securing over US$135 million worth of investments to grow and
scale their businesses. IPA past winners and nominee company valuations amount
to US$200 million+.
Managing Director, AIF, Pauline
Mujawamariya Koelbl who has steered the IPA program since its establishment in
2011, said: “We are proud of the impressive innovations that made it to the top
10 this year. They are evident examples of African ingenuity and each
innovation is solving a real challenge in a key sector. Africa, and indeed the
rest of the world, must keep an eye out - these innovations are ready to propel
our continent’s global competitiveness in the market! Furthermore, these top 10
nominees are a great reminder that if given access to capital, Africans are capable
of solving African challenges whilst also contributing to the rest of the
world.”
Meet the top 10 IPA nominees
whose innovations are in the sectors of agri-business, public health and
well-being, ICT, energy, environment and water as follows:
Biodegradable seed tray for rice
farming (Madagascar) - Juslain Nomenjanahary Raharinaivo: Rice is a staple food
in many African countries, constituting a major part of the diet. With an
ongoing demand for increased rice production, some African countries are not self-sufficient.
In Madagascar, seeds are therefore sowed in innovative pots made of paper,
called BG or biodegradable germinators. Growers transplant seedlings into
easy-to-transplant clumps with very high tilling capacity which also increases
rice yields and allow possibilities to expand the area under cultivation.
Buried Diffuser (Tunisia) - Wassim
Chahbani: Irrigated systems play a major role in sustaining livelihoods in
Africa and the world over. Water in agricultural use is critical for crop
yields, and reducing consumption is necessary to increase the amount of
available water for other uses. The Buried Diffuser saves irrigation water,
energy, and use of fertilizers, reducing zero water waste through evaporation.
Water is injected directly to the roots, radically reducing water consumption
levels used for irrigation.
Efficient detection of TB and
Hepatitis C (Morocco) - Professor Abdeladim Moumen and Dr. Hassan Ait
Benhassou: Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis (TB) are critical health burdens in
Africa. Besides lack of available treatment, access to accurate and
cost-effective diagnostic tests remain a challenge across the continent. This
innovation comprises two molecular tests for the rapid, accurate and effective
detection and load quantification of both diseases. The technology allows
specific detection of the hepatitis C or TB genome in blood or sputum samples;
tests are clinically validated, simple, accurate and low cost.
eNose sensor for tea processing
(Uganda) – Abraham Natukunda: This innovation applies an "eNose" and
analytics platform to supplement current tea processing procedures using low
power sensor devices to determine optimum levels of tea fermentation. An
analytics platform receives and analyses the sensor data, providing real-time
monitoring of key reactive elements and compounds during the tea-processing
period, ensuring efficient traceability, prediction, and motion. This
innovation will lead to improved control results in better tea quality,
boosting marketability and increased revenue for tea processors from each
bushel of tea harvested.
Incas Vaginal Discharge Kit
(Ghana) – Dr. Laud Anthony Basing: Incas Vagkit is a 3-in-1 urine-based test
kit that examines vaginal infections. Linked to a mobile application, it offers
a convenient and fast solution for women experiencing vaginal infections. The
Vagkit simply requires a urine sample and can be used at home; results are
available within 10 minutes. This innovation drastically reduces testing time
for vaginal infections in Africa, leading to the efficient and quick detection
and management of vaginitis.
“iThrone” portable toilet (Egypt)
– Dr. Diana Yousef: “We shrink it” is a revolutionary approach to removing
un-piped sewage. This technology innovation is a disruptive yet low-cost
composite polymer membrane that essentially “shrink-wraps crap” aggressively
evaporating or “flushing” away the full water content of daily sewage output
without need for added heat, energy or flush water. This innovation responds to
the problem of poor sanitation and health conditions, as well as pollution
caused by sewerage. iThrone cuts off a significant amount of methane emissions
that are generated by unmanaged/uncollected sewage.
Mobile Shiriki Network (Rwanda) –
Henri Nyakarundi: The Shiriki Hub is a Smart Solar Kiosk, powered by strong
solar panels and equipped with large capacity batteries, Internet of things
(IoT) sensors, and a custom designed router, offering device charging, virtual
top-ups, and low-cost connectivity. Designed as a business-in-a-box and distributed
on a micro-franchise basis, this is an ideal solution for digital connectivity
to rural populations and temporal settlements such as refugee camps.
Natural solutions for skeletal
regeneration and repair (South Africa) - Prof. Keolebogile Shirley Motaung: A
multi-method approach using natural products for skeletal regeneration and
repair. La-Africa Soother (LAS) is a topical paste ointment for sportspeople as
a natural anti-inflammatory cream to treat pain and inflammation. The second
product which is Plant-Based Morphogenetic Factor Implant (PBMF) induces bone
and cartilage formation. Treatment of fractures has been a continuous challenge
for orthopaedic surgeons. The latter product differs from knee replacement,
autografts and allografts, offering quick results with no waiting period and no
harvesting of tissue, with relief and safety for patients.
Reducing pollution in an
eco-friendly way using GKSORB! (Benin) - Dr Fohla Mouftaou: Water hyacinth is
an environmental threat in many African countries, invading lakes, rivers, and
agricultural fields. The threat affects agriculture, the fishing industry,
health and livelihoods. GKSORB is 100% organic and biodegradable fiber with the
potential to absorb up to 17 times its weight. Made from water hyacinth, it can
be used as a separator for hydrocarbons or as a cleaning agent for surfaces
contaminated by various pollutants such as hydrocarbons, acids and paints.
Waxy II Technology (Tanzania) -
Christian Mwijage: His company recycles and transforms post-consumer waste
plastic into durable and environmentally friendly plastic lumber using a
chemical-free and energy conserving technology called “Waxy Ó€Ó€ technology” for
building, construction and furniture production. Every year, more than nine
million tonnes of plastic garbage ends up in the ocean causing a major threat
to marine life and people. Plastic timber is an affordable alternative to wood
timber and reduces the need for building material manufactured from wood,
preserving forests, cutting down on deforestation and mitigating the effects of
climate change.
More about Innovation Prize for Africa
IPA
(InnovationpPizeforAfrica.org) brings together 450+ movers and shakers
representing African innovation ecosystems annually through this award. Six
successful IPA editions have been hosted in every region in Africa in
partnership with host country Governments as follows: 2012: Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia; 2013: Cape Town, South Africa; 2014: Abuja, Nigeria; 2015: Skhirat,
Morocco; 2016: Gaborone, Botswana; and 2017: Accra, Ghana. Follow this link
(InnovationPrizeforAfrica.org/#2018) to learn more about IPA and IPA 2018
nominees.
Do you want to get involved in
IPA 2018 as a sponsor or partner? Contact us for an outstanding opportunity to
position yourself as a key player in the African innovation landscape through
collaborating and networking opportunities; new partnerships; brand awareness
and marketplace alignment; and media, PR and online publicity on local and
international platforms.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, AIF
would like to inform its partners, stakeholders and the innovation community
that the IPA 2018 Awards event is postponed and the new date will be
communicated in due course. Keep watching this space for updates!
About African Innovation Foundation
Our purpose is to increase the
prosperity of Africans by catalysing the innovation spirit in Africa. Our
innovation-led programs showcase innovators and foster an innovation culture
across the continent through the Innovation Prize for Africa (InnovationpPizeforAfrica.org)
and we support legal business ecosystems through innovative access to law
through the African Law Library (www.AfricanInnovation.org).
Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA)
(InnovationpPizeforAfrica.org) is a landmark initiative of the AIF (www.AfricanInnovation.org).
Its goal is to strengthen African innovation ecosystems through supporting a
culture of innovation and competitiveness, whilst spurring growth of
innovative, market-driven African solutions to African challenges.
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