Prize will be Awarded to Entrepreneurs and Innovators who Deliver Market-oriented Solutions for African Development
 

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, July 30, 2013/ -- The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) announced the call for entries for the 2014 Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA). The prestigious Prize, presented annually since 2012, aims at encouraging innovations that contribute to sustainable development in Africa. The winning submission will be awarded a prize of USD 100’000, with two additional USD 25 000, one for the runner up with an innovation with the best business potential and the other one for the runner up with the innovation with the best social impact.

In an effort to drive African-led development, the IPA invites African entrepreneurs and innovators to propose projects that unlock new African potential under one of five categories which include: 1) agriculture and agribusiness; 2) environment, energy and water; 3) health and wellbeing; 4) ICT applications; and 5) manufacturing and services industries.

“The IPA team believes that the best way to build Africa’s capacity is to invest in local innovation and entrepreneurship.  This prize encourages Africans to develop creative ways to overcome everyday challenges,” said AIF founder Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais.

The IPA 2013 was awarded to South Africa’s AgriProtein for its innovative approach to nutrient recycling – a method that uses waste and fly larvae to produce natural animal feed.  The 2013 prize also recognized two additional winners for their contributions to African innovation.  In the business potential category, Hassine Labaied and Anis Aouini from Saphon Energy (Tunisia) received USD 25 000 for creating a bladeless wind convertor.   In the social impact category, Sanoussi Diakite (Senegal) received USD 25 000 for developing and distributing a thermal powered machine that husks 5 kilograms of fonio – an important and healthy West African cereal – in just 8 minutes.  This innovation increases accessibility to a nutritious African staple food source and addresses challenges associated with its consumption.  

With more than 1350 applications received to date, the IPA aims to support Africans’ efforts to develop new products, increase efficiency and drive cost-savings on the continent. The IPA also provides a platform for African innovators to showcase their solutions to potential investors and seek partners to scale up their marketable concepts. Only innovations by Africans and for Africans are eligible to enter. Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance to Africa.

The registration deadline for the 2014 prize has been set for 31 October 2013. For detailed information of competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission procedures, please visit www.innovationprizeforafrica.org and review the detailed call for application prior to applying.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA).

KARIBU Solar Power is an innovative solar social enterprise that makes high quality solar power affordable. We produce a modular solar lamp (solar panel + rechargeable battery + light) and employ an innovative social business model that allows the average Base of the Pyramid (BoP) consumer to enjoy the benefits of solar lighting and mobile phone charging. By paying in small increments which replicate the required cash flow for kerosene, we make solar affordable.

See the website: http://www.karibusolar.com

The above statements are the pitch of the Karibu company at the Venture Capital for Africa,whilst showcasing their products;is one of the product that  you must use for lighting as well as charging mobile phones,and other home equips.

Solar energy is an important part of life and has been since the beginning of time. Increasingly, man is learning how to harness this important resource and use it to replace traditional energy sources.

Solar Energy Is Important in Nature

Solar energy is an important part of almost every life process, if not, all life processes. Plants and animals, alike, use solar energy to produce important nutrients in their cells. Plants use the energy to produce the green chlorophyll that they need to survive, while humans use the sun rays to produce vitamin D in their bodies. However, when man learned to actually convert solar energy into usable energy, it became even more important.

Jordan Kalyembe

Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba

The ICT and postal minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba took the country’s six mobile network operators to task for poor service quality and other practices, and asked the country’s regulator to determine the level of fines the government should impose based on current rules.

Le Potentiel reports that the minister criticised the operators for engaging in a price war through special promotions that do not meet regulated prices and for allowing pre-registered Sim cards being sold everywhere that scupper efforts to identify phone users for reasons of state security.

Speaking to representatives of Africell, Airtel, Orange, Standard, Tigo and Vodacom, the minister also said their companies’ behaviour was eroding tax revenues. He reminded them of their obligation to work through the consortium managing the DRC's single international gateway and vowed continue to fight the use of so-called Sim Boxes that use the DRC’s +243 country code fraudulently.

Telecompaper.com