[Wigsat-l] UNECA: Science with Africa - The African Science to Business Challenge (ASBC)

[Sophia Huyer]

Science with Africa - The African Science to Business Challenge (ASBC)

The major aim of the African Science to Business Challenge is to  
generate productive impact of research through translation into  
sustainable products, processes and services. In so doing, this  
initiative also aims to provide awareness amongst African researchers  
as a means of equipping them with the skills, knowledge and experience  
necessary to bring research-based ideas, inventions and innovations to  
market.

Specific aims are:

1. Provide African scientists and researchers with an understanding of  
commercialization know-how, as well as the technical aspects (such as  
financial management, intellectual property, project management and  
market research);

2. Build strong, ongoing connections between researchers and research  
institutions with industry and investors who can help to bring ideas,  
inventions and innovations to market, or otherwise into economically  
productive use;

3. Bring research and outputs to the market, or into productive usage,  
in a timely and effective manner to yield tangible benefits from that  
research and ensure that it contributes to the economy and the broader  
community.

  2009 CATEGORIES

The following fields will be considered for this inaugural challenge:

Biomedical Engineering, which integrates physical, chemical,  
mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles  
for the study of biology, medicine, behavior and health. It advances  
fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the  
organ systems levels, and develops innovative biology, materials,  
processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the  
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient  
rehabilitation, and for improving health, Therefore, this category  
focuses on the development of new devices, algorithms, processes and  
systems that advance biology and medicine and improve medical practice  
and health care delivery. For example a marketable system or device  
that improves health communication or a system for electronic health  
records.

Water Quality is central to the human rights and personal dignity of  
every human being. Yet there are currently over one billion people in  
the world lacking safe water and over two billion without adequate  
sanitation. Nearly 80% of those without safe water are concentrated in  
just three regions – East and South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa and  
coverage rates in Sub Saharan Africa are the lowest with just 56% of  
people with access to safe water. Dirty water is often the cause of  
ordinary childhood diarrhoea, a leading killer of African children and  
lack of clean water and sanitation leads to a wide range of potential  
diseases. These include cholera, typhoid, malaria, yellow fever,  
filariasis, river blindness, sleeping sickness, guinea worm,  
bilharzia, trachoma, scabies and more. Consequently, this category  
will focus on marketable and innovative approaches to the use of  
biotechnology and development in nanotechnology for water  
purification, wastewater treatment and desalinization by African  
scientists with a focus on adaptation and appropriate applications of  
new technologies for delivering safe water for Africa, particularly in  
rural areas.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility criteria are that submissions must be from African  
researchers and research institutions:

1) An individual researcher sponsored by his/her organization or  
government, and/or
2) A reputable research institution or university

Applications are especially encouraged from female researchers.

More information:  http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/asbc.html
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