RAEng announces 2019 shortlist for Africa Prize

Now in its fifth year, the prize recognises the work of young entrepreneurial engineers and provides funding and business mentorship to those shortlisted. Concepts that have made the grade this year include a smart glove that translates sign language to speech in real-time, a secure currency exchange platform that moves money between users instead of banks, and a ‘farm-in-a-box’ vertical garden that uses waste to grow food in small urban spaces.

After seven months’ mentoring and training, four finalists will be selected from the shortlist. In June 2019 the finalists will present their businesses to judges in front of a live audience in the Ugandan capital Kampala, after which one winner will receive £25,000, and three runners up will be awarded £10,000 each.

“The shortlist has come to represent the most talented engineers on the continent,” said Cameroonian entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong, one of the judges on the Africa Prize panel. “Through the Africa Prize, we’ve seen cutting edge technologies and world-firsts develop into businesses that manufacture locally, and drive research and development on the continent. We can’t wait to meet the new group of engineering pioneers.”