Sixteen innovators from eight African countries, including Botswana for the first time, have been shortlisted for the 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
Founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Prize is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. And here are the proud members of the 2024 cohort:
Africa Prize innovators join a network of 133 alumni across 21 African countries working to transform the continent with home-grown solutions for improving quality of life and economic development.
In 2024, four finalists will compete for a share of £60,000, with the overall winner receiving £25,000
Details of the shortlisted 16 entrepreneurs:
- Beba-Beggie, Charles Oduk, Kenya – An IoT automated locker technology offering affordable, accessible, secure and convenient short-term storage.
- Biomass Briquettes, Ludo Ntshiwa, Botswana – An environmentally-friendly clean fuel that harnesses the green energy of biowaste to produce a renewable energy source for heat production as a substitute for charcoal.
- Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, Esther Kimani, Kenya – A solar-powered tool using AI- and machine learning-enabled cameras to detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases early.
- Eco Tiles, Kevin Maina, Kenya – An environmentally-friendly roofing material made from recycled plastic.
- Kiri EV, Christopher Maara, Kenya – An end-to-end affordable and clean energy mobility provider, from electric motorcycles, scooters and tuktuks to battery charging infrastructure across Kenya.
- Knock Knock, Esther Mueni, Kenya – A domestic alert system for the deaf and hard of hearing, using a highly sensitive vibration sensor to detect physical knocks on a door and transmit this information to smartphones via Bluetooth.
- Kuza Freezer, Purity Gakuo, Kenya – A durable low-cost solar-powered fridge freezer made from recycled plastic waste.
- La Ruche Health, Rory Assandey, Côte d’Ivoire – A smart healthcare platform that provides communities in remote areas with direct access to vital healthcare information via WhatsApp, facilitates appointments to vetted medical practitioners, and digitises medical records for smooth patient onboarding.
- MakSol Cooker, Paul Soddo, Uganda – A low-cost, solar-powered induction oven and hob designed for safe, zero-emissions indoor cooking by people in off-grid communities.
- MAVUNOLAB Solar Dryer, Dr Evodius Rutta, Tanzania – A low-cost solar-powered dryer developed to help small-scale fish processors and farmers in off-grid locations by enhancing food safety and hygiene for perishable food products.
- Microfuse Stick Computer, Ivan Karugaba, Uganda – A compact and affordable device that plugs in to any screen, projector or monitor to transform it into a Wi-Fi-connected computer, increasing computer access and digital inclusivity.
- MycoSubstitutes, Abubakari Zarouk Imoro, Ghana – An eco-friendly sewage treatment that uses viruses, bacteria, and fungi to treat and feed on faecal waste and produce yarn and leather substitutes.
- PenKeep, Adaeze Akpagbula, Nigeria – A climate-smart remote sensing device that monitors and controls environmental conditions in poultry farms, ensuring optimal health and productivity of chickens.
- Second-Life Batteries, Léandre Berwa, Rwanda – A solution that repurposes retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be assembled as a back-up power supply for telecom towers and mini electricity grids.
- The Kitchen Box, Tunde Adeyemi, Nigeria – An affordable biogas digester technology which turns any type of organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser, and generates clean energy for heating and cooking.
- Yo-Waste, Martin Tumusiime, Uganda – A location-based mobile application that connects homes and businesses to independent agents for an efficient on-demand rubbish collection and disposal service.
