Two young Ghanaians Addae Obeng Benjamin and Achiri Arnold have been shortlisted for the 2020 edition of Next Einstein Forum’s (NEF) Challenge of Invention to Innovation (Ci2i) finals.

They are among 25 finalists who will be converging in Nairobi Kenya, from 10-13 March for the competition which comes with an enviable $25,000 prize.

Addae Obeng, Aleph Engineering has developed a Hardware and software solutions for enhancing physiotherapy in children with cerebral palsy whilst Achiri, Traveler Inc: has also developed an information system app that detects accidents in real time and sends a distress signal to ambulances and authorities.

Top 25 Innovators to Compete in NEF’s Global Gathering In Nairobi

The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) has announced the 25 finalists for its Challenge of Invention to Innovation (Ci2i) competition in five categories to be held in Nairobi in the NEF Innovation Salon.

The Managing Director of the Next Einstein Forum, Nathalie Munyampenda, in a press statement, said, "the third cohort of Ci2i finalists, selected from 260 applications, are ambitious African innovators developing scalable solutions to local challenges in agriculture, integration and logistics, personalized and precision health, power and energy.”

The 25 finalists will not only be pitched for a $25,000 prize in each category but also be connected to investors in a one-of-a-kind 'Sciencepreneur Investor Meetup, she added.

Selected with the support of Co-creation Hub, finalist include the creators of an overweight and obesity tracking database, portable solar-powered solution against post-harvest milk losses, ophthalmic devices emerging as the world's first definitive treatment of glaucoma, an online blood bank connecting hospitals, and two innovations aiming to ease the burden of doing business in Africa: a cryptocurrency and industrial IoT solution.

The 25 were selected by reviewing the project’s potential for impact, technological readiness and the potential for commercialization. Winners will be announced on 13th March 2020.

They will be treated to a lab-style bootcamp, held before the NEF Global Gathering 2020 in Nairobi starting on 10th March. The bootcamp will involve pitch preparation and investment readiness sessions. At the end of it, the young sciencepreneurs will gain knowledge of how to create and deliver value through their solutions as well as understanding funding options & valuations.

Ms. Munyampenda said "For the last six years we have been working with young African innovators whose disruptive and transformative innovations in health, agriculture and fintech are having a wider impact for African citizens. We are once again honored to give these 25 brilliant Sciencepreneurs, the NEF platform to catapult from and to connect them with the investors they need to scale impact.”

Meet the 25 Ci2i finalists:

Sadiq Temitayo from Nigeria for AirSynQ: An automated aerial surveillance system powered by balloon satellites, for monitoring oil and gas pipeline assets in a bid to curb oil theft and vandalism

Addae Obeng Benjamin from Ghana for Aleph Engineering: Hardware and software solutions for enhancing physiotherapy in children with cerebral palsy.

Moussa Thiam from Senegal for CABA: A real-time hydroclimatic risk monitoring system used to track and provide flood risk information to low-income communities.

Philippa Ngaju Makobore from Uganda for ECGF: An affordable Electronically Controlled Gravity Feed Infusion Set (ECGF) that regulates and delivers intravenous fluids or medication to patients.

Abraham Natukunda from Rwanda for eNose: An analytics platform that increases tea processing procedures using low power sensor devices and a data analytics engine.
Albert Kure from Nigeria for FrontierSS: At the intersection of facilitating STEM education and the creation of education solutions.

Nzambi Matee from Kenya for Gjenge: An alternative building manufacturing company that recycles plastic waste.

Salma Bouggarani from Morocco Green WATECH: A patented, eco-innovative and efficient Multi-Soil Layering (MSL) system for municipal wastewater treatment.

Oghenetega Iortim from Nigeria for GRICD: Rechargeable, trackable, mobile cold boxes that enables businesses store and transport temperature-sensitive commodities.

Chijo Bare from Nigeria for Hydrotriciton: A water-powered, emission free, generating set that utilizes water as an input fuel and through cost effective hydrogen gas production.

Ifeanyi Christopher Chukwurah from Nigeria for Ifymoto: An insect farming enterprise creating a protein-packed, cheap and high-quality alternative to the unsustainable livestock feed.

Melissa Bime from Cameroon for INFIUSS: An online blood bank that connects hospitals with blood banks especially those that lack them.

Joshua Fisher from South Africa for LIQID Medical: Innovative and high impact ophthalmic devices that fight global blindness.

Percy Lemtukei from Kenya for MaziwaPlus Prechiller: A non-refrigerant mobile solar-powered milk chiller with a farmer management and milk collection platform.
Nsereko Mike from Uganda for MiNi Money: A peer to peer mobile/blockchain technology that reduces Africa's high cost of remittances from 14% to 7%, and even further to 2%.

Menyo Innocent from Uganda for M-SCAN: A portable affordable power efficient ultrasound devices that are compatible with laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

Yankho Kaimila from Malawi for Nutrition Wellness Center: A center for the prevention and management of overweight and obesity and dietary related diseases.

Abasifreke James from Nigeria for POKER: Blockchain development of innovative solutions for banks and fintech companies, including government security agencies.

Okey Esse from Nigeria for Powerstove Offgrid: Affordable smokeless clean cookstove that uses 70% less of biomass and cooks food 5 times quicker, saving households $300 annually.

Olubanjo Olugbenga from Nigeria for Reeddi: Sustainably provides clean, reliable and affordable electricity to individuals, households and businesses operating in energy-poor regions.
Fela Akinse from Nigeria for Salubata: Modular and customizable shoes made from recycled plastic.

Abdou Maman from Niger for Tele Irrigation: Long-distance mobile, solar and IOT captor water distribution, real-time farm monitoring and data collection.

Achiri Arnold from Ghana for Traveler Inc: An information system app that detects accidents in real time and sends a distress signal to ambulances and authorities.

Adulai Barry from Guinea Bissau for Ubuntu2S: Intelligent solar home system (SHS) kits and solar kiosks, developed with open solutions and mobile money payments.

Kolawole Oluwatomisin from Nigeria for Vinsighte: A digital health venture that aids the visually impaired to live more comfortably and achieve their full potentials.

About the Next Einstein Forum

Launched in 2013 by the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), the Next Einstein Forum's (NEF) work is shaped by our belief that the next Einstein will be African. The NEF is working to make NEF a global hub for science implementing programs that connect science, society and policy in Africa and the rest of the world - with the goal to leverage science for human development globally. The NEF believes that Africa's contributions to the global scientific community are critical for global progress. At the centre of our efforts at NEF is Africa's young people, the driving force for Africa's scientific renaissance.

The NEF organizes biennial Global Gatherings, Africa's largest science and innovation conference. Far from an ordinary science forum, the NEF Global Gatherings position science at the centre of global development efforts. In the presence of political and industry leaders, and with a strong focus on youth and women, the voices of global science leaders' have the opportunity to be heard and to have major impact on Africa's scientific future. The 3rd NEF Global Gathering will be held on 10-13 March 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya.

In addition, the NEF organizes an Africa Science Week in over 30 countries each year. The last edition was held in 35 countries from September to December 2019. To make science relevant for everyone, the NEF publishes a public magazine Scientific African Magazine