Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program 2021

Application Deadline: 8th December 2021

About the Award: The inaugural Prize challenges innovators from around the world to significantly increase value to small and medium-sized farms in Africa through new technologies and agribusiness innovation.

The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize program is a series of multi-year, multimillion-dollar prize competitions for technological solutions that accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a spotlight on Africa.

• Scalable, tech-based solutions: The prize program mobilizes significant financial and human capital through its inclusive and integrated approach to access and mobility for innovators and startups. 
• A global community of entrepreneurs: The inclusive eteg7erkfxehos of the prize program provides an equal opportunity for success—irrespective of age, status, education, location, or past achievements.
• Global data-driven insights: There will be significant new data captured and ideas generated from the range of innovations and field tests. Prizes are useful tools to accelerate data capture for evidence-based research.

Type: Contest

Selection: Teams have until December 8, 2021 to register and submit designs and business models. An independent panel of expert judges will select up to 25 teams to each receive $10,000 to develop small-scale prototypes over the ensuing six months. In the final round, teams will demonstrate their entries in field tests which will be evaluated by their ability to:

• Increase net economic value to the farmer
• Increase productivity at harvest and/or decrease post-harvest loss
• Reduce costs for farmers
• Provide a viable and sustainable business model
• Be implemented by small and medium-sized farms
• Develop or integrate innovative technologies

Eligible Countries: Any

To be Taken at (Country): South Africa

Number of Awards: 3

Value of Award:

• The judges will award a $1 million Grand Prize to the winner
• Additional prize money will be distributed among Second and Third Place winners, a prize for the most creative use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and a People’s Choice Prize.
• Registration is free
• In addition to the prize money, teams will benefit from access to networking, training, and other resources. To register for the prize, or to learn more, visit www.milkenmotsepeprize.org.

How to Apply: REGISTER

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.

Visit Award Webpage for Details