The competition basically seeks to identify innovative technical solutions to tackle global challenges in basic needs. Inventors and developer teams can submit their low-tech innovations in one of the following eight categories that cover the main areas of basic needs: Water & Waste Water, Energy, Food & Agriculture, Waste Management, Healthcare, Sheltering, Education and Information & Communication.
The first prize winner will be awarded KES 5.5 million; the second prize KES 3.3 million while the third prize is KES 2.2 million. In addition, 20 runners-up will be awarded a sum of KES 550,000 each. A Community Prize will also be awarded and judged by the global online empowering people community. The winning entry here will receive hardware worth KES 330,000.
Apart from winning the prize money, the solutions will be showcased and promoted in a Solutions Database and the inventors and entrepreneurs behind the innovations will become part of a broader endeavour, the “Empowering People Network”. This community, created and facilitated by Siemens Stiftung, consists of developers and social entrepreneurs from around the globe.
Previous winners showcasing their innovative technologies include solar kiosks to enable communities without electricity to charge mobile phones, One Dollar Glasses that are simple to construct locally, Georadar software that maps water tables in water scarce areas, SMSGYAN – an offline research database that gives users access to encyclopaedia via SMS and the micro-intensive Fish Farm that fits in a single shipping container. More innovations can be viewed here.
Deadline for entries is on November 30, 2015 at 0700 Hrs EAT. Click here to apply.