Three South Africans have been shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation | So Good News

The 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation has shortlisted 15 African entrepreneurs and their cutting-edge technologies for environmental restoration, education and human health and safety.

This year’s innovations include a treatment to convert acid mine drainage (AMD) into drinking water, a portable aquaponics unit that uses fish waste to increase vegetable production, a robotics learning tool for children, a remote health monitoring system and an eco-friendly stove. absorbs black carbon.

Other innovations include energy and environmental solutions, including a power pack that uses recycled laptop batteries to address unreliable power supply, modified battery-powered motorcycles, an electric cargo bike with a battery-powered refrigerator to reduce post-harvest loss, a system assisting in the preparation of waste for recycling and a mobile machine for making interlocking compacted earth bricks.

Africa Award Judge and AppsTech CEO Rebecca Enonchong explains why climate change will affect Africa more than other continents, affecting agricultural production, food security and water resources, and weakening adaptive capacity.

“This year, 11 of our innovations directly contribute to environmental sustainability,” he noted.

In 2023, the shortlisted innovations will address the key challenges of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including quality education, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, good health and well-being and clean energy.

The 2023 shortlist includes ten African countries, including Angola and Sierra Leone for the first time, and highlights the importance of engineering to improve quality of life and economic development.

Launched in 2014, the Africa Prize is awarded annually by the Royal Academy of Engineering to ambitious African innovators who are creating local and large-scale solutions to African and international challenges.

Innovators shortlisted for the Africa Prize will benefit from a support package that includes business incubation, mentoring, fundraising and communications.

The package also includes access to the Royal Academy’s global network of high profile and highly experienced engineers and business experts across the UK and Africa.

In mid-2023, four finalists will be selected to present their innovations and business plans to Africa Prize judges at an event in Accra, Ghana.

The winner will receive £25,000 and the three runners-up will win £10,000 each. The most promising innovator will be awarded an additional £5,000 One Look Award.

This year’s shortlisted innovators join the academy’s network of 134 Africa Prize alumni, which includes innovators who have achieved significant commercial success and social impact across the continent after participating in the prize.

2022 winner Nora Magero won based on a portable solar-powered refrigerator solution for drug transport.

Africa Award graduates are projected to impact more than three million people over the next five years and have already created 3,585 jobs, including 1,766 for women and 211 for people with disabilities. They have also raised more than $14 million in grants and equity funding, contributing directly to the UN’s 12 SDGs.

The 2023 shortlist includes several water innovations, such as a real-time water quality monitoring and control system, an AMD solution to recycle polluted water for human consumption, and a water management system to prevent over-pumping of wells and drying up of aquifers.

MAKING THE CUT

Shortlisted innovators and entrepreneurs include South Africa’s affordable AMD solution Boitumelo NkatloA smart water management system that monitors water levels in Ghanaian wells and water tanks Obed ZarAngola’s robotics learning tool for kids Christovao Cacombe and a portable fish farm that uses fish waste as fertilizer to produce organic Cameroonian vegetables Flavien Quatcha Simo.

For Electric Mobility, Nigeria Chukwuemeka Eze into an e-mobility service that converts gas-powered tricycles to battery-powered ones, while South Africa Edmund Wessels plans to introduce a portable device that will allow gynecologists to diagnose and treat uterine health issues without anesthesia.

Ghana Emmanuel Ofori Devi is included in a healthcare monitoring system that records a patient’s vital signs and sends them to doctors, while the Ethiopian Fikru Gebre Dikumbab Using 90% to 95% soil and 5% to 10% cement, compacted earth is fed into a hand-operated portable machine to make compacted bricks.

ProbiGal is a host-specific multi-strain probiotic designed to improve gut health and prevent bacterial infections in chickens, Dr. South Africa adds to the competition. Deon Nevelingand Sierra Leonean Margaret Yainkain Mansaray goes into an efficient non-electric cooking device designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and health risks.

Other innovators include Zimbabwe Allen ChafaReal Time Water Quality Monitoring and Control System, Nigeria Tolulope OlukokunElectric cargo bike with battery operated refrigerator to help smallholder farmers in Nigeria, Tanzania Gibson Kawagoepower pack made with recycled laptop batteries, Nigeria Cletus Ecpohfour-part recycling system to help informal waste pickers and Uganda Anatoly Kirigwadjolocal digital network.