The Africa Innovation Summit (AIS) brings together the African innovation ecosystem players in support of socio-economic development and structural transformation across the continent. This pan-African network also focusses on policy reforms and change to support innovation and growth, acting as a marketplace platform for innovators, investors, markets and shared experiences across the continent. This second AIS was held in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda under the esteemed patronage of his excellences President Paul Kagame and Pedro Pires (former President of Cabo Verde; 2011 Mo Ibrahim Prize Laureate). The AIS 2018 follows the first successful Africa Innovation Summit that took place in Praia, Cabo Verde in 2014. AIS serves as a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform, and a catalyst for coalition and action towards building robust innovation ecosystems in Africa.
AIS required Enterprise Room to design and implement the Innovation Track Process. The scope of the project was to:
- Position AIS agenda as relevant and real through incorporation of practical, live examples of innovation,
- Advertise Summit, and related opportunities, to as many people as possible across the continent, in particular youth,
- Source/identify innovation potential and existing projects/solutions across the continent,
- Educate citizens, especially youth, as to the ideals and mission of the AIS,
- Connect innovators to networks, knowledge, and funding,
- Highlight successes and challenges related to African innovation, showcasing restraints to leaders and policy makers on the continent and abroad,
- Inspire innovative thinking and unlock potential,
- Learn from the ground up and support new thinking to solve the most urgent issues as a continent, and planet.
Enterprise Room researched and developed the challenge definition, eligibility, evaluation, and selection criteria as well as marketing collateral including social media plan and content. The Innovation Track process was designed as a lean and cost-effective model utilising an online application process specified by Enterprise Room. We also implemented a multiple review process to ensure fairness and objectivity, as well as utilising different and multi sectoral expertise from across the continent to ensure the review process considered all relevant continent needs and challenges.
Applicants were directed to one of three application processes: Ideas, MVP, and Scale, each with common and unique questions. Applicant information was used in the evaluation process in addition to providing valuable feedback regarding their insights, challenges, and lessons in innovation. Extensive research and report back to the AIS committee included quantitative and qualitative metrics, trends and findings
Innovation Challenge Statistics
- 15 sponsor partners
- 3633 registrations
- 2 satellite summits
- Over 1350 delegates
- 76 countries including 24 non-African countries
- 122 scientific papers submitted
- +150 referral partners engaged across continent and abroad
- 607 applications from 49 countries (5 non-African countries)
- Top sectors: agriculture, healthcare and energy
- Most submissions: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana
Applications
- Over 360 idea stage
- Over 120 ready to commercialise
- Over 110 with an active customer base and ready to scale
- Judging panel of 46 expert evaluators from across the continent, all of whom were leading specialists in their respective industries
- Top 50 innovators selected
Media Statistics
- AIS Social Media Campaign reach: 2,683 Facebook followers
- #AIS2018 reached 2.5 million people through 500 posts
- 608 online news platforms covered the AIS Top 50 Announcement and generated 3.7 million views
- AIS ‘call for applications’ press release generated 6.8 million views
- AIS innovators collaborate, actively referring contacts and opportunities to each other
