Sixteen innovators shortlisted for the 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Sixteen remarkable engineering innovators from seven African nations have been selected as finalists for the prestigious 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, organized by the Royal Academy of Engineering. This year, the competition saw an unprecedented number of applications, with submissions coming from a record 30 countries across the continent.

Established in 2014, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation stands as the largest award in Africa dedicated to promoting engineering innovation. Its core mission is to stimulate, celebrate, and reward ingenuity and entrepreneurship throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Since its inception, the prize has provided invaluable support to 149 businesses from 22 African countries, offering essential training, mentoring, and communication resources. These initiatives have not only created over 28,000 jobs but have also positively impacted more than 10 million people through the innovative products and services developed by these entrepreneurs.

The 16 shortlisted candidates for the 2025 Africa Prize have been recognized for their groundbreaking solutions aimed at addressing critical challenges in the areas of environment, education, and health, thereby transforming their respective communities.

The winner of the Africa Prize will be awarded GBP 25,000 (approximately US$ 32,000), while three runners-up will each receive GBP 10,000 (around US$ 13,000). Additionally, the audience at the award ceremony will have the opportunity to vote for the recipient of the “One-to-Watch” award, which recognizes the most impactful pitch, with the winner receiving GBP 5,000 (about US$ 6,500).

Here are the shortlisted innovations and their respective entrepreneurs:

1. Aquamet: Developed by Frank Owusu in Ghana, this innovative device monitors water quality in local fisheries and sends real-time notifications to farmers’ mobile phones, helping to ensure higher yields.
2. Autothermo: Created by Nura Izath in Uganda, this bracelet-like device is designed for newborns, monitoring and transmitting real-time data such as temperature, fever, and respiratory issues to caregivers through an intuitive emoji system.
3. Community Kitchens Powered by Renewable Energy: Founded by Peter Njeri in Kenya, this initiative focuses on clean cooking community kitchens that utilize a new alternative cooking gas derived from plastic waste.
4. E-Safiri: Founded by Carol Ofafa in Kenya, this project promotes electric mobility by expanding charging stations and battery swapping points nationwide, utilizing both renewable and grid energy.
5. Eco Plastic Wood: Edgar Edmund Tarimo from Tanzania has developed a solution that converts discarded plastic waste into high-quality lumber and furniture.
6. Eco-Plates: Created by Rui Bauhofer in Mozambique, these disposable plates are made from recycled maize husks, fully biodegradable, and infused with seeds that will germinate and grow once discarded.
7. FarmBot: Sam Kodo from Togo has designed an autonomous robot that monitors crop health and plant growth, detects pests, and gathers soil data, sharing this information with farmers in real time.
8. FreshPack: Developed by Editha Mshiu in Tanzania, this cold storage solution is inspired by human skin and made from phase change materials, allowing produce to be stored and kept fresh for longer without electricity.
9. Hybrid Solar Dryers: Designed by James Nyamai in Kenya, these agricultural dryers utilize both biofuels and solar energy to operate in all weather conditions, reducing losses during the rainy season.
10. Mkanda Salama: Created by medical student Paschal Kija in Tanzania, this massaging device is worn around the abdomen to manage postpartum hemorrhaging and reduce maternal mortality rates.
11. Neo Nest: Designed by Vivian Arinaitwe in Uganda, this neonatal warming and monitoring device relays key health indicators of newborns in real time to medical professionals, helping to prevent neonatal deaths.
12. Play and Learn Web App: Developed by Chinelo Okafor in Nigeria, this AI-powered application enhances digital skills and creates personalized pathways for users to improve their digital training.
13. Smart Hive Device and Precision Pollination Technology: Margaret Wanjiku from Kenya has created an AI-powered device that monitors key features within beehives to combat bee colony collapse and enhance crop yields.
14. Smart Luku: Designed by Shabo Andrew in Tanzania, this smart meter allows individual tenants in shared residences to measure and pay for their own electricity, with the option to share their electricity with others.
15. A Sustainable Agro-Tech Solution: Ahmed Maruf from Nigeria has developed a solution that upcycles scrap metal into affordable agricultural and industrial machinery.
16. TERP 360: Created by Elly Savatia from Kenya, this AI-powered device translates spoken words into sign language in real time via an app, promoting greater inclusivity for the hearing-impaired community.

These innovative projects exemplify the spirit of creativity and problem-solving that the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation seeks to foster across the continent.