Johnson & Johnson Launches Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0; Winners to Get $50,000 Funding

Johnson & Johnson has launched the Champions of Science Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0 for African startups and businesses.  The challenge is aimed at getting African innovators to submit ideas for innovative technologies, products and solutions that have the potential to create a positive impact on communities across the continent.

@JNJInnovation launches the Africa innovation challenge 2.0 first right here in #CapeTown at the #AWIEF2018 conference. They will be searching for innovation in healthcare from around the awesome continent of #Africa pic.twitter.com/pV6vJuVq72

— Fiona Anderson (@FionaAndersonAA) November 8, 2018

Currently in its second edition, the challenge provides an important platform to support emerging entrepreneurs. It seeks to help accelerate the development of unique, sustainable health care and environmental solutions. It also seeks to render support to Africa-based entrepreneurs in creating innovative health care products and services.

With a focus on health and environmental solutions, the challenge has highlighted six major problems that need scalable and sustainable solutions. These includes: Botanical Solutions, Packaging Innovations, Mental Health, Health Worker Support, Digital Health Tools, and Essential Surgical Care.

“The growing number of innovation hubs throughout Africa is sparking a new generation of entrepreneurs who are innovating and finding new solutions for issues facing their communities,” said Josh Ghaim, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. “Our goal with the second Africa Innovation Challenge is to expand our support for the region’s entrepreneurs by pushing the boundaries of creative solutions to meet several areas of urgent need. With six new solution categories, Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0 represents an extraordinary opportunity for the region’s growing community of innovators to showcase new ideas with the potential for broad societal impact,” Ghaim added.

Submissions are open to innovators and entrepreneurs from all African countries with creative and scalable ideas. Their health care solutions should address at least one of the six challenge categories with innovators providing a proof of concept as well as long-term sustainability of the solution.

Calling all #Africa-n Entrepreneurs & Innovators! The #ChampionsOfScience #AfricaInnovation Challenge 2.0 is open. Help address critical unmet needs of the continent by submitting your #innovation by January 16, 2019 to #JNJ. @JNJGlobalHealth https://t.co/aEdbvghAt6 pic.twitter.com/rBDJZJLJDs

— Elie (@eriman20) November 9, 2018

Participants with the best solutions will receive up to US$50,000 in equity-free funding. They will also receive mentorship from the global network of scientists, engineers and business managers within the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies to bring the new solutions forward.

Applications are currently open for the Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0. Deadline to submit applications is January 16, 2019 and award recipients will be announced in 2019.

So are you an African entrepreneur with a ground-breaking healthcare solution? You can click here to apply.