Presidential Innovation Award 2023 Kenya (Youth Edition)

Presidential Innovation Award 2023 Kenya (Youth Edition)

The Presidential Innovation Award (PIA) is a module of the Talanta Hela programme run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports that intends to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of innovators across the country. It will recognise and award the innovative work of top innovators in the country within the national priority areas. This will encourage and support young people who are using their innovativeness, creativity and problem-solving skills to make a positive impact on society while becoming economically active.

The goal of the Presidential Innovation Award is to promote innovation as a driver for socio-economic development through fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and commercialisation capabilities of Kenyan innovators.

The main objectives of the Presidential Innovation Award are to

  • Scout and identify most promising innovative ideas and solutions from across the country.
  • Showcase the most promising innovations and startups at the Kenya Innovation Week
  • Recognise the achievements of the most promising innovators and startups at the Jamhuri Day Celebration
  • Support the commercialisation of the promising innovations through a Presidential accelerator programme.

The Presidential Innovation Award focuses on the following priority areas:

Food Security and Agriculture

Innovations, technologies, and solutions that aim to increase food production, improve the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural practices, and enhance access to nutritious food for all people.

Digital Transformation

Innovations, technologies, and solutions that aim to leverage digital technologies to fundamentally change business processes, improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth.

Healthcare

Solutions that address healthcare challenges in society ranging from prevention, detection, surveillance, diagnosis, response, monitoring of health conditions to health promotion.

Entertainment and Gaming

Innovations, technologies, and solutions that aim to enhance the quality, engagement, and accessibility of entertainment and gaming experiences for consumers.

Climate Action and Green Energy

Innovations, technologies, and solutions that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Eligibility Criteria for the Presidential Innovation Award 2023 Kenya (Youth Edition)

Youth innovations and startups creating solutions within the listed focal sectors are eligible.

  • Food Security and Agriculture
  • Digital Transformation
  • Healthcare
  • Entertainment and Gaming
  • Climate Action & Green Energy

The innovation should also meet the criteria stipulated below;

  • The startup must be legally registered in Kenya and its founders must be Kenyan citizens.
  • The startup must be developing and scaling an innovative product, service, or technology that solves a significant social problem or addresses an unmet need in the market.
  • The innovative product, service or technology must be within the sectors of Digital Transformation, Affordable Healthcare, Food Security and Agriculture, Entertainment and Gaming, and Climate Action and Green Energy.
  • The startup must have a clear understanding of its market and a viable strategy for customer acquisition and retention.
  • The startup must have a minimum viable product that has been tested and piloted.
  • The startup must have an intellectual property or proprietary technology that differentiates it from competitors and provides a competitive advantage.
  • The startup must have an active and permanent team with at least 3 members having relevant complementary skills and expertise.
  • The startup must not have received any funding or award from the Agency before.
  • The founding members should be youth aged between 18 – 35 with exception to PWDs (between 18-40).

Benefits to the Winners for the Presidential Innovation Award 2023 Kenya (Youth Edition)

Overall Winner

  •  Cash Award
  •  Celebration at Jamhuri Day
  •  Showcasing at KIW: Commonwealth Edition
  •  Participation in the Accelerator programme

1st Runner-Up

  •  Cash Award
  •  Celebration at Jamhuri Day
  •  Showcasing at KIW: Commonwealth Edition
  •  Participation in the Accelerator programme

2nd Runner-Up

  •  Cash Award
  •  Celebration at Jamhuri Day
  •  Showcasing at KIW: Commonwealth Edition
  •  Participation in the Accelerator programme

Top Innovators Per County Awards.

Top innovators per county will be awarded, showcased at the Kenya Innovation Week: Commonwealth Edition and given an opportunity to go through the prestigious Presidential Innovation Accelerator programme.

Submit Innovation: https://pia.innovationagency.go.ke/register

For more information, click here