Top 10 nominees for 2017 Innovation Prize for Africa announced

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) last Thursday announced the top 10 nominees for the 2017 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA).

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver a keynote address at the Awards ceremony slated for 18th July 2017.

The nominees were shortlisted from nine African countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

This year’s innovators have demonstrated incredible proficiency through innovative solutions addressing challenges in agriculture value chain, healthcare, energy, communications, service industries as well as surveillance using drone technology.

“We are pleased to share with you the names of our IPA2017 nominees as we continue on our mission to catalyse the innovative spirit and unlock untapped potential in Africa.Moreover, given the instrumental role African women play in transforming Africa, it is thrilling to see more women among the 10 nominees with game-changing innovations.

By providing platforms to recognize innovation excellence in Africa and mobilizing for African innovators, we continue to live up to our credo of engaging, inspiring and transforming. The inspiring stories of these nominees remind us that innovation and African-led solutions are indeed the answer to Africa’s growth and prosperity.” said Walter Fust, AIF Chairman of the Board.

Pauline Mujawamariya Koelbl, IPA Director said: “Over the years, IPA has stimulated impactful and market-oriented innovations aiming at changing lives and transforming Africa. In this sixth edition, we want to promote more investment in home-grown innovations as well as intra-African collaboration and trade to allow the scaling up of viable innovations across borders. We’re excited for the opportunity to work with our partners to ensure the innovations of the 10 nominees will be available to African markets and beyond. We invite you to join us and unlock the potential of African innovators, starting by investing in these 10 nominees.”

AIF will host the IPA 2017awards ceremony and its second Innovation Ecosystems Connector on 17 and 18 July in Accra, Ghana. The event will focus on how innovation enablers and businesses can leverage funding streams, investments, and resources that are critical to unlocking potential of African innovators. Participants at the IPA Awards will get an opportunity to attend the official opening of IPA2017, experience the innovation marketplace, join high-level roundtable discussions, Zua Hub meet-ups, and networking activities, ending with a celebration of African ingenuity when the IPA 2017 winners will be announced. See key activities listed below.
Infographic

The event will be hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and Ghana 60 Years On Planning Committee.