Africa Prize for Engineering InnovationAfrica Prize for Engineering Innovation
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Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Eight-month training, mentoring & up to £50k for African engineering innovators.

Organizer: Royal Academy of Engineering
Deadline: September 23, 2025 (in 11 days)
Categories: Competition, Accelerator, Funding Opportunity
Regions: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, established by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is recognized as Africa’s largest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. It aims to identify, support and accelerate high-potential engineering startups and innovators across sub-Saharan Africa. Applications are now open for this competitive programme.

What the Prize Offers

Support, Funding & Growth Opportunities

  • Up to 16 shortlisted participants are selected for the full programme.
  • An eight-month tailored training programme designed to help scale solutions and businesses.
  • Two fully-funded training weeks: one located in the UK and another in a major African city.
  • Access to business and technical expertise, including sector-specific engineering mentoring.
  • Bespoke press coverage and communications support to enhance visibility.
  • Inclusion in the Academy’s network of high-profile engineers and business experts in both the UK and Africa.
  • Opportunity for finalists to present their innovations to a judging panel at the Africa Prize showcase event.
  • Prize money of up to £50,000 for participants.

Track Record & Impact

  • Launched in March 2014 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Since its inception, more than 165 businesses from 22 countries have benefited from the Prize.
  • Has an established alumni programme: currently 71% of alumni generate revenue.
  • Collectively, alumni have raised about US$39 million in grants and equity.

Application Logistics

Process & Key Deadlines

  • The application process is conducted in two stages.
  • First stage applications must be submitted by Tuesday 23 September 2025, at 4 pm UTC+1 in order to be considered for stage two.

Eligibility & Other Details

  • Targeted at engineering innovations operating within or designed to benefit sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Selected innovations are evaluated based on technical feasibility, business model, potential for impact, scalability, among other criteria.

Areas of Innovation & Thematic Focus

While the prize is open to a variety of sectors, emphasis is placed on innovations that:

  • Improve sustainability
  • Generate employment
  • Advance technology that benefits communities across different sectors such as health, environment, energy, etc.

The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation offers an impressive combination of financial support, mentorship, technical and business training, and visibility through a well-structured programme. For engineering entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa looking to scale impact, this presents a compelling opportunity. The deadline for first stage applications (23 September 2025) is not far off; innovators who meet the criteria might consider applying to tap into the resources and network this Prize affords.

Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation | RAEng Official