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Universities (and other HEIs) worldwide generate new knowledge through diverse research activities. Technological inventions are also key outcomes of research at universities and HEIs. However, in most universities, research only contributes to advancing the scientific knowledge frontier. Much of the new knowledge and technologies generated through research at universities remain shelved, unexploited and rarely commercialised into products and/or services for the market that benefit society at large. As a result, a knowledge and technology transfer gap exists in many fields. While this is a global challenge, the gap is considered wider in developing contexts like Africa.
As demonstrated by few universities that have been structured to convert new knowledge into products and services through spin-offs companies, the basis for the university’s growth and spin-off or research-based start-up collaboration is reciprocal. The impact of firms originating from research-based solutions is evident in the resulting returns (economic, social, technological and/or environmental) from commercialising for the universities, the researchers, entrepreneurs, and the larger society. These spin-off or start-up firms, in exchange, provide funds and job opportunities to the university to generate more knowledge through further research activities.
To promote research-based spin-off entrepreneurship, researchers, academic staff and students at HEIs need to develop their science in a way that can lead to real-world impact and be able to adapt the outcomes of their research into viable commercial enterprises. ABIC 2021 thus offers students, researchers, academics at African universities as well as early-stage entrepreneurs (alumni) the opportunity to initiate their entrepreneurial journeys leading to the establishment of research spin-off start-ups.
The overarching aim of ABIC 2021 is to provide the opportunity for graduate and postgraduate (masters and doctoral) students and researchers at African universities to unearth their entrepreneurial abilities by generating relevant and viable business solutions through their scientific research endeavours. It is expected that the business idea competition will foster skill development in business ideation, design thinking and encourage entrepreneurial activity within the scientific research community at African universities as it offers young African researchers a platform to share their innovative entrepreneurial solutions originating from scientific research.
ABIC 2021 is open to submissions with innovative ideas and solutions from all fields of scientific research, sectors and industries. These include but are not limited to sectors such as health, education, agriculture, information technology, finance and commerce, enterprise development and trade, transport, water and sanitation, among others. It is important that the solution or product emanates from ongoing or completed scientific research undertaken by students or research and academic staff at an African University. The submitted ideas should thus offer sustainable solutions to real-work challenges which satisfying a market need, especially but not limited to Africa. Early-stage entrepreneurs who are university alumni can also participate in the competition as team members with students or researchers.
Interested persons from universities, research institutions and other HEIs in Africa can participate in the competition. Eligible participants must be:
Participation can be in one of two (2) forms:
Female participation: The participation of women is highly encouraged in this competition. Teams are encouraged to consider involving women as team members where possible.
Please note the following:
The following are the stages for the competition:
Stage 1: Registration and Submission of Idea
Stage 2: Evaluation and Selection of Top 6
Stage 3: Pitch Training and Development of Pitch Video for Top 6
Stage 4: Online Final Event and Selection of Top 3 Winners
To join the competition, eligible individuals and teams are required to register their participation as an individual or team: You will be required to provide brief information about the participants in a short online form. Click on the Registration Link below.
You will receive an email with further instructions on the next step to provide more information on your idea on the Innolytics Platform.
The next step involves submitting details of the business idea in the structure provided in our innovation management portal – Innolytics. The platform is set up to facilitate and guide participants to provide the jury with the needed information for evaluating the submissions. Please prepare the following information in advance for the Innolytics portal.
The information provided on the research will be cross-checked and verified with the university or institution as the competition processes.
