*The prestigious African award marks its 5th year milestone boasting the “Made in Africa” spirit
Gaborone, capital of Botswana will host the 5th edition of the Innovation Prize for Africa in June.
This was announced today in a joint statement by the African Innovation Foundation (AIF) (http://www.AfricanInnovation.org) and Botswana’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH). The exact date has not been fixed.
The hosting enjoys the endorsement of President Seretse Khama Ian Khama.
About 3,600 entries were received for the various awards between August and October last year.
The grand prize is $100,000, while a runner up will take $25,000.
There will also be a special prize of $25,000 for social impact of an innovation. And also a voucher of $5,000 to each IPA nominee. There will also be Business development support for top 10 young innovators selected post Awards event and Business development support for top 10 women innovators selected post Awards event.
IPA is a program of the AIF, whose purpose is to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalyzing the innovation spirit in Africa. IPA celebrates its 5th year in helping to shape the innovation landscape in Africa. To date, IPA has attracted more than 6 000 innovators from 50 African countries, making it a truly Pan-African initiative.
This year’s event with its “Made in Africa” theme promises to be ground-breaking, extending beyond the Awards ceremony. AIF is offering several avenues of opportunity for local, national, regional and international growth and exposure to Africa’s next cadre of innovators. The event will provide an unprecedented platform for African innovators and innovation enablers to network, share knowledge, explore business opportunities and boost collaboration.
Botswana’s selection as host country for IPA 2016 is seen in its commitment towards building its national innovation ecosystem. This is demonstrated by the government’s catalytic role in capitalising on and supporting the knowledge economy through the development of a 57-acre Science Park, dubbed the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH). The Icon Building in the BIH Park will be launched in September 2016, as Botswana celebrates yet another milestone – 50 years of Independence.
“Hosting IPA 2016 and celebrating African ingenuity in Gaborone will afford Botswana an opportunity to showcase its commitment to putting innovation at the center of its development strategy,” says the Botswana Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Nonofo Molefhi.
“We are greatly honored to have been selected to host IPA 2016 and look forward to showcasing the positive strides Botswana and indeed Africa is making in the innovation landscape.”