The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom will deliver a keynote address at the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) awards gala dinner, on 7 May 2013 at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town from 19h00.
This initiative mobilises African Innovators and entrepreneurs by providing to winners who deliver market oriented solutions for African-led development.
About 900 applications were received from 45 countries, and now it’s down to 10 finalists who have developed practical solutions to some of the continent’s most intractable problems.
The 10 IPA finalists are leaders in disciplines such as agriculture, environment, health, manufacturing and the ICT. Five of the finalists are South Africans, they include:
- Dr Dudley Jackson developed a waterless toilet for rural areas and temporary settlements that separates liquids from solids to improve environmental impact, decrease the potential for disease, reduce odour and ensure easier removal.
- Prof Eugene Cloete created a water filter that uses electrospun tea bag material to ensure one litre of the most polluted water is 100 percent safe to drink.
- Ashley Uys created a new rapid malaria test that indicates within 30 minutes if treatment is effective. The test kit is one of only nine developed globally and is the only test of its kind fully-owned by an African company.
- Andi Friedman and his team has developed a software that provides mobile data collection and field research solution, allowing sophisticated forms of research to be conducted across Africa online or via mobile phones.
- An innovative team of researchers from AgriProtien Technologies developed a new source of animal feed protein that lowers the cost of feed for African producers and farmers.
The winner will receive USD 100 000 (about R890 000) for the best innovation based on marketability, originality, scalability, social impact and clear business potential. A runner up will receive USD 25 000 (R222 600) for the best commercial potential and another winner will receive USD 25 000 as a special prize for social innovation.
Hosted by the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and the Sekunjalo Development Foundation, the Innovation Prize for Africa is a joint initiative by the African Innovation Foundation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
All media are welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact:
Nthabi Maoela
Cell: 082 944 0015
