Africa Innovation Fellowship 2023: a unique opportunity for women entrepreneurs in engineering

Innovation drives progress, and for women engineering entrepreneurs in Africa, the Africa Innovation Fellowship 2023 offers an exceptional opportunity to advance their ideas and contribute to the development of technology. In this article, we explore in detail this promising programme, designed to support women founders in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

A springboard for STEM innovation

Since 2019, the Royal Academy of Engineering, in partnership with WomHub, has established the Africa Innovation Fellowship. This programme acts as a launch pad towards the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. Its main objective is to support female founders looking to scale their early-stage STEM innovations.

The Programme in Detail

The Africa Innovation Fellowship is an intensive eight-month programme offering comprehensive support to participants. It includes

• Mentoring : Access to a network of experienced mentors and industry experts.
• Workshops and Training : Comprehensive training in business development, including market access, product strategy, external factors and business models.
• Coworking space : Access to a dedicated workspace equipped with essential resources.
• Networking opportunities : Connect with other women entrepreneurs, investors and potential collaborators.
• Presentation options : Present your start-up to potential investors and partners.
• Visibility : Showcase your innovation to a global audience.

Eligibility criteria :

• Applicants must have a new or innovative registered STEM business idea or start-up based in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Applicants should have developed, and be in the early stages of commercialisation, an engineering innovation that will bring social and/or environmental benefits to one or more countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Individual candidates must be citizens of a sub-Saharan African country*. For teams of two or more people, the main candidate must be a citizen of a sub-Saharan African country.
• No former participant, or co-founder of former participants, of the Africa Prize for Innovation in Engineering will be eligible for the AIF programme.
• Strong commitment to entrepreneurship.
• Applicants must be able to commit to the eight-month programme, which starts in October 2023 and runs until May 2024.
• Applicants must hold a valid passport and be available to travel between October 2023 and May 2024.
• Demonstrated passion and knowledge in their chosen STEM field.
• Willingness to take an active part in the programme.
• Candidates must identify themselves as women.
• Candidates must be over 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.

How to apply

Access the application form on line here

Application Process :

• Complete the online application form on our website. Only applications completed via the online application form will be accepted.
• Download the supporting documents required in the application form.
• The deadline for submission of complete applications is 5 October 2023 at 23:59 South African Time (SAST).
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.
• Final selection and start of the programme.

Important dates :

• Application deadline: 5 October 2023
• Maintenance dates: from 19 to 31 October 2023
• Programme start date: 23 November 2023
• Programme support: November 2023 - June 2024

To remember

For the purposes of this scholarship, Sub-Saharan African countries include :

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland/eSwatini, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

NOTE : Djibouti is not included in sub-Saharan Africa, as it is administratively part of the Middle East and North Africa.

The Africa Innovation Fellowship 2023 is more than just a support programme. It's a chance to realise dreams, advance technology and inspire other women to embrace the world of engineering. Join this adventure and be part of the change.

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