The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award is the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and Speak Up Africa‘s flagship program focused on supporting young health entrepreneurs across Africa with the tools they need to advance promising healthcare solutions for the betterment of their communities.
Launched in 2021, the 1st edition of the Award focused on solutions that supported, equipped, protected, and trained healthcare workers working tirelessly to protect and treat the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2nd edition of the Award, we seek to find and nurture health innovations that will help us get closer to the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC means everyone has access to the healthcare services that they need, of good quality and without the risk of financial hardship (WHO 2007).
Whilst many African countries have shown their commitment to achieving UHC by 2030, progress towards attaining this goal has stalled in the past year, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating already strained health systems. In a bid to accelerate efforts to reach global goals dedicated to providing healthcare to anyone who needs it, the 2nd edition of the award program is promotes innovations that can help:
In support of gender equality we are ensuring that both genders will benefit equally from the Award program, this means two men and two women will be selected for the 1st and 2nd prize:
Funding totaling $90,000.
2 X 1st prizes of $30,000 and 2 X 2nd prizes of $15,000
A three-month business mentorship program from prominent business leaders
Expert advice on IP rights and other related legal matters
Media training, increased PR and press opportunities to present your innovation to global audience
Access to a network of supporters and partners working across healthcare, technology, and media
A glimpse into Intellectual Property rights
For aspiring health innovators, safeguarding your groundbreaking ideas is essential. Our Young Innovators for Health Award program provides expert guidance on navigating the patent landscape to protect your intellectual property. Leading law firm, Adams and Adams is an Award supporter and in this video, patent attorney, James Davies, offers valuable insights on intellectual property for entrepreneurs and prospective applicants.
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The Award community gathers prominent global health influencers, policymakers, organizations, top-tier business leaders, and international, pan-African, and national media partners who believe in the power of African youth to deliver change. Together, we join forces to support young African innovators in advancing healthcare in Africa. Amongst members of the community: