By Staff Reporter
The Royal Academy of Engineering has launched its call for applications for the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. The prize offers a significant opportunity for ambitious African innovators to receive support and funding to develop scalable engineering solutions to local challenges.
Prizes and Support
The Africa Prize offers substantial prizes for outstanding innovators. The overall winner will receive £50,000, three runners-up will receive £10,000 each, and one shortlisted candidate selected through audience vote will receive £5,000.
In addition to the cash prizes, up to 16 shortlisted African innovators will receive comprehensive support, including an eight-month tailored training program to strengthen business plans, pitching, and innovation development. They will also receive two fully-funded training weeks, one in the UK and one in a major African city.
Eligibility and Application
The Africa Prize is open to ambitious entrepreneurs from sub-Saharan Africa who have developed engineering-based solutions to address local sustainable development challenges. Applications from both engineers and non-engineers are welcome, provided their innovations are in the early stages of commercialization and have strong potential for replication or scaling up. The deadline for applications is September 23, 2025.
Success Story
Last year’s winner, Esther Kimani, CEO of Farmer Lifeline Technologies, developed the Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, a solar-powered tool equipped with artificial intelligence and machine learning that helps smallholder farmers detect and identify pests and diseases quickly. Winning the Africa Prize has enabled her to scale her innovation and expand its reach to benefit more farmers across the continent. “The Africa Prize offered expert support, individualised mentorship, and tailored business advice—resources that are otherwise very expensive for a startup. It was an opportunity we couldn’t let go,” she said.
africaprize.raeng.org.uk/about-the-prize/how-to-apply/
