UNECA launches Innovation Prize for Africa’13

The second round of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA), which aims to reward innovation across Africa in key sectors of interest, was launched today at a press conference organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Director, ICT, Science and Technology Division (ISTD) at the ECA, Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, confirmed this to ITRealms, saying, “Our focus is the future we innovate. It’s based on the core belief that the best way to predict the future is to create it. It is a call to action across Africa. To develop our own solutions, bring together our best minds and all our resources.”

She also said the prize is a global invitation to link arms and use potential, create efficiencies, and commercialize the very best ideas, which is the future Africa deserves.

Ms. Opoku-Mensah explained that researchers are invited to propose projects that unlock new African potential under one or more areas which include manufacturing and service Industry; Agriculture/agribusiness; ICTs; Health and Wellbeing; and Environment, Energy and Water.

She reiterated that the organizers expect the prize to promote among young African men and women the pursuit of science, technology and engineering careers and business applications.

She further explained that the aims include 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; and Encourage entrepreneurs, innovators, funding bodies and business development service providers to exchange ideas and explore innovative business opportunities.

According to her, in pursuing those aims, the IPA expects an increased commercialization of research and development (R&D) outputs in Africa; Increased funding of start-ups, adoption of new and emerging technologies and accelerated growth of an innovative and dynamic private sector; and increased economic activity and African led development that results in lasting impact.

She emphasized the selection criteria, which include market potential, impact, scalability, originality, utility and technical aspects and informed journalists that the winning proposal would be awarded a cash prize of US$ 100,000, with two runner-ups receiving each US$ 25,000. Even as the registration deadline for the 2013 prize, has been set for 31 October 2012 with no possibility for extensions.

Ms. Opoku-Mensah recollected that in the first phase of the competition, 458 applicants from 38 countries submitted their projects for consideration, reflecting the strong entrepreneurial spirit and the high potential of innovations in Africa.

She pointed out that an Egyptian engineer, Mohammed Sanad, who has designed a base-station antenna that could facilitate upgrades to more advanced mobile networks in developing countries was the first winner of the Innovation Prize for Africa.

The runner up, Zeinou Abdelyamine, an industrial chemist from Algeria, received US$50,000 for his research and development of environmentally friendly, natural insecticides and rodenticides. 

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D

Nokia is platinum sponsor @ DEMO Africa

Nokia today confirmed participation and support as the platinum sponsor for the first ever DEMO Africa to be hosted in Nairobi, Kenya in October this year.

ITRealmsOnline gathered that the newest addition to DEMO's Global Launch Programme, DEMO Africa 2012 will provide the most innovative new and established companies from across Africa the opportunity to launch their products on stage at this high profile event. It is also a platform for companies from outside the region to launch into the African marketplace.

Vice President, Nokia South and East Africa, Gerard Brandjes, says Nokia has a long and rich history on the African continent, stressing “Our core strength comes from our local presence, deep consumer understanding and the ability to ignite and enable the local innovation ecosystem. DEMO Africa is the perfect showcase for this innovation, and we are extremely proud of our association with this flagship event.”

Forty of Africa’s most innovative technology products, he said, will be launched at Demo Africa, even as the product categories include consumer electronics, web applications, mobile technology, social media, life sciences, sustainable and renewable energy.

“Only companies that exhibit innovation, impact and the ability to scale their ideas will be considered for this prestigious launch platform,” he hinted, pointing out that DEMO Africa is an opportunity for Nokia to showcase its commitment to the Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations (LIONS@FRICA) partnership, as well as the continued focus on enabling the local ecosystem and adding value to consumers.

Also speaking, the Executive Producer, DEMO Africa, Mr. Harry Hare, says they were excited that Nokia has joined in the search for the next big thing out of Africa. 

“They have been a major player in this space and they will bring unprecedented value to the entire exercise," he said.

Nokia and DEMO are also members of Liberalizing Innovation Opportunity Nations (LIONS@FRICA) Partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Microsoft, African Development Bank and USAID. This is a new public-private alliance aimed at enhancing Africa's startup and innovation ecosystems. 

Remmy Nweke

MTN’s WACS to boost broadband capacity in Nigeria

The West African Cable System (WACS) being championed by MTN Group is expected to boost broadband capacity in Nigeria. This follows the roll out of a bouquet of services at the weekend in Lagos.

WACS is a consortium of 11 network operators across 15 countries with MTN being the single biggest investor in the group. WACS connects South Africa with the United Kingdom along the West Coast of Africa, landing in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde as well as the Canary Islands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

The chief enterprise solutions officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Osho, confirmed in a press statement made available to ITRealms noted that the 17,200 kilometres (km) submarine cable system service was made commercially available in May, 2012.

In Nigeria, he assured that MTN is now ready offer large organisations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) reliable high capacity connectivity for all their needs.

“We have capacity to provide high quality, low latency internet access to wholesalers such as ISPs – Internet Service Providers, Internet Bandwidth Resellers and Carriers, as well as end-users anywhere in the country,” he said.

Osho also explained that WACS has 15 landing stations along its route, putting MTN in a vantage position to deliver International Private Leased Circuits to additional locations worldwide.

He pointed out that MTN has a unique advantage which no other cable has, of a pre-existing extensive terrestrial Internet Protocol (IP) and broadband backbone infrastructure, enabling the company to deliver high grade and highly-available Internet capacity to anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria.

Osho expressed the belief that WACS would bring the much-needed boost to the growth of many businesses whose requirements for data have continued to be on the rise in the last few years.

MTN Business, he assured, would continue to provide world class ICT solutions that would enable large corporations and small and medium scale enterprises, serve their customers better.

“The coming of WACS is yet another way of keeping our promises,” Osho declares.

Remmy Nweke
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D