Applications for the 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation are Now Open

0 149 2 minutes read

Applications for the 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation are Now Open

Application Closing Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026 at 4.00pm UCT+1

About The Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, The Royal Academy of Engineering delivers public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, The Royal Academy of Engineering provides leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond. The world is changing rapidly, with economies, supply chains and security critically dependent on engineering capability. Engineers are uniquely placed to respond to that change and innovate solutions to the challenges it presents.

The organisation has three goals:

Sustainable and Innovative Economy, where sustainability drivers, innovative industries and resilient infrastructures are aligned to drive growth and productivity that will support better lives for all.
Technology Improving Lives, where technology in all its forms is used to meet the most important human needs, avoid harm, support fairer societies and break down barriers to opportunity.
Engineering Community Fit for the Future, where the community reflects society in its diversity, commits to creating inclusive cultures to help drive engineering excellence, and has the skills to meet future needs safely, securely
and ethically, and to keep pace with innovation.

Applications for the 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation are Now Open

Launched in 2014, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation awards crucial commercialisation support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development.

The Africa Prize has supported over 180 businesses from 24 countries through the programme. You can read their profiles here, or explore their innovations by country, sector and SDG through an interactive map. Each year, The Royal Academy of Engineering supports up to 16 shortlisted African innovators with a unique package of support over eight months to help them accelerate their businesses,
including:

Eight-month tailored training programme, including expert sessions, 1:1 financial modelling coaching and business support.
In-person training weeks.
1:1 sector-specific engineering mentoring from the Academy’s network of high-profile engineers in the UK and Africa.
Bespoke press coverage and communications support.
The opportunity to present your innovation at the Africa Prize showcase event in a major African city.
Prize pot of £85,000 available, with prizes ranging from £5,000 to £50,000.

The 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is open for applications. Apply by deadline to be considered. The Africa Prize follows a two-stage application process. The first stage is open to all eligible applicants, while only longlisted innovations are invited to submit the second stage of their application. Register to attend an online information session using the links below.

Before you apply, please read the detailed Application Guidance Notes to ensure you understand the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and assessment process. If you have any questions, please contact the Africa Prize team at [email protected].

When you are ready to apply, access the Grant Management System and select 2027 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2026/2027 Stage 1 to begin your application.

The Africa Prize is designed to support businesses and drive their growth. While one person will represent the programme publicly, communications will showcase the entire company and team behind the innovation. Prize money is awarded specifically to scale the applicant’s innovation and expand their impact.