Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa Innovation Awards 2016: Innovations that Impact the Future of Food

About Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa Innovation Awards 2016: Innovations that Impact the Future of Food

The Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa Innovation Awards 2016 is a competition looking for the latest innovations in the future of food. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a rapidly growing population and as a result, food production will need to increase significantly. We encourage young innovators and start-ups to use this opportunity to make a real difference by using technology and ICT to make a positive contribution towards sustainability in the food sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

The goal is to find innovations that promote sustainability in the future of food, whether it be in food production, packaging, information availability or distribution – we want to see your innovation and how it will change the future of the food industry as we know it!

The Innovation Awards recognises thought leaders who create innovative technological solutions to empower communities and individuals, while working towards the goal of a fully networked society.

Outstanding ideas are rewarded to foster fresh talent. By competing in these awards, innovators will have the chance to showcase their ideas, grow their networks and reputations, and receive start-up support and guidance from leading African businesspeople.

Tell us your big idea by completing the form at the bottom of this page. You’ll need to provide a 3-page business case and 3-minute video (maximum) as part of your entry.

Your Big Idea:

Please share your Future of Food idea with us. We are looking for any idea that you think will contribute to the Future of Food – it can be highly technical or it can be a more social concept but please remember the solution needs to involve ICT.

Team Requirements:

• If you wish to partake in the student category, all team members will need to be a registered student at a tertiary institution on October 1, 2016. Your team must be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4. Students from all years and all fields of study are eligible to participate, including PhD students. We encourage diversity in our teams and are open to teams of different nationalities, universities and fields of study.
• If you wish to partake in the start-up category, your annual turnover must be less than USD800 000.

Business Case requirements:

Your business case will need to include: a product description, a problem statement and solution, a financial analysis and a sustainability analysis. It should be no longer than 3 pages.

Video Submission requirements:

You will need to submit a video or provide a link to a video of your innovation. This video must be no longer than 3 minutes. The video needs to show what the innovation is, and how it works through a demonstration. It would also be nice to include an introduction of you and your start-up.

(Please note that the video does not need to be a professional production, but needs to meet the following specs: landscape orientation and quality of 720p or 1080p. It can be filmed on a high quality smartphone.)

The closing date for entries Monday 31 October 2016.

Adjudication process:

• A judging panel will select ten semi-finalists.
• One winner will be chosen from the semi-finalists.
• The semi-finalists will be presented at the awards ceremony in a video that will showcase their innovations.
• The Winner/ing team will be awarded and will present their innovation at the awards ceremony.

Application Deadline

October 31, 2016

Value of Award

Grand prize of $10 000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The contest consists of two (2) competition category, the student category and the small and medium enterprise category.
• To be eligible to be part of a team participating in the student category – such person (“student”) shall (i) be a student of higher vocational and academic studies; (ii) register himself/herself for the contest by completing and submitting a team application form at www.innovationawardssubsaraha.com; and (iii) be part of a team consisting of 2-4 students.
• To be eligible to be part of a team participating in the small and medium enterprise category – such individual or group shall (i) not generate more than US $800 000
• A student may be prohibited/suspended from participating in the contest if Ericsson, at its sole discretion, reasonably believes that such party has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the contest by, inter alia, cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices, providing false or misleading information, or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other participants in the contest, Ericsson or associated agencies, or if the student infringes any intellectual property right.

For more information, click here to visit official webpage>>