Over the years, there have been conversations around the future of technology in Africa and how technology can disrupt processes on the continent and usher in the 4th industrial revolution. It is believed that the future of Africa is undoubtedly technologically oriented and this means technology will solve a lot of problems on the continent.
Since 2017, Techpoint Africa has hosted tech enthusiasts, innovators, disruptors and developers of tech companies across Africa and the world at the Techpoint Inspired Conference in Lagos, Nigeria. Several sessions will be held and there will be demos from groundbreaking companies and startups showcasing innovation and the application of new technologies. Also, Techpoint Africa partnering with the University of Sussex in England, United Kingdom is organizing a Inspired Technovation Challenge.
The Inspired Technovation Challenge is aimed at identifying, inspiring, encouraging and recognising future innovators, techpreneurs, data scientists and artificial intelligence engineers in Africa for the fourth industrial revolution and the future of work. This is a perfect partnership between two technological disruptors because over the years Techpoint has spread the gospel of technology in Africa through several conferences and blog posts while the University of Sussex, a world class institution, has an extensive curricula for intensive studies in many fields of technology and engineering. The competition requires the submission of a disruptive and tech-driven innovation that has the potential to transform Africa’s future of work in a 700-word pitch document or 3-minute video.
Of the many applications that will be received, only the top five innovations
will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts at TechPoint
Inspired Conference. The panel will consist of representatives from the
University of Sussex and several respected individuals in the tech space; they
include
- Professor Maziar Nekovee (Professor, Engineering & Design, Sussex University UK)
- Judith Okonkwo (Founder, Imisi 3D)
- Lanre Olusola (Life Coach & Wellness Mentor)
- Tosin Faniro Dada (Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates) at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund)
- Olubayo Adekanmbi (Chief Transformation Officer, MTN)
The prizes for the first set of the Inspired Technovation Challenge are quite attractive with the following:
- The first place wins ₦70,000, a postgraduate scholarship worth £6,000 (which will be awarded for the September 2019 academic session at the University of Sussex to one of the eligible postgraduate courses) and mentoring from Techpoint Africa
- The second place wins ₦50,000 and mentoring from Techpoint Africa
- The third place wins ₦30,000 and mentoring from Techpoint Africa
- Consolation prizes for fourth and fifth places
To apply for the challenge, participants must take note of the following terms and conditions:
- A means of Identification to be presented alongside entries.
- Entries must be not more than 700 words and 3 minutes for videos.
- Entries will be judged on the originality of ideas and creative approach to the subject.
- The organisers and judges have the final decision on the winners.
- By participating, participants agree that their names, profiles, and images can be used for publicity purposes for the competition.
- Entries close at midnight on 25th May, 2019.
- Selected finalists will be required to register to attend Techpoint Inspired 2019 as winners will be announced at Techpoint Inspired 2019
According to Adewale Yusuf, CEO and publisher at Techpoint Africa: “For us at Techpoint and the University of Sussex, partnering on this competition is our way of recognising, rewarding and supporting the work of innovators and creative thinkers.”
While Professor Jonathan Bacon, Head of School, Engineering and Informatics at the University of Sussex, commenting on the partnership highlighted: “We are delighted to partner with Techpoint Africa to inspire the future shapers, disruptors and game changers in the tech and innovation space across Africa. Interdisciplinarity, innovation, impact and employability is central to the Sussex experience, our goal is to equip graduates with the right skills and mindset to thrive in the future workplace”.
You can apply for the challenge here.
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Featured image source: Techpoint.Africa