Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa Innovation Awards 2024 for Students

Open to university students of all ages based anywhere on earth, the Ericsson Innovation Awards competition recognizes innovative concepts that use technology to solve global challenges – and Imagine Possible. This year we are challenging you to ‘Impact our Sustainable Future’.

Your Big Idea: Please share your Future of Food idea with us. We are looking for any idea that you think will contribute to the Future of Food – it can be highly technical or it can be a more social concept but please remember the solution needs to involve ICT.

Application Deadline: Monday 31st October 2016.

Eligible Countries: Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

About the Award: Imagine decreasing food shortages while cleaning up oceans or addressing fashion waste while supporting gender equality. Taking inspiration from the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), identify an interconnected challenge to tackle with your team and create a new innovative tech solution that can make a lasting change.Innovations come in all sizes, from simple changes in code that could redefine future networks to complex technological advances that will advance humanitarian efforts worldwide. Now is the time to develop your idea to give it the best chance of having an impact by entering the Ericsson Innovation Awards (EIA). We’re looking for your inspired technology solutions that can help solve today’s significant challenges.

For the fourteen teams who have progressed through to the semi-finals of the competition, new challenges await. Students must now expand their original ideas by submitting the following deliverables:

Phase 2: Semi-Finalist – Business case build-up

Deadline: 30th October 13:00 (CEST): Semi-finalists will receive mentorship from a dedicated Ericsson team to expand their ideas further. At the end of the mentorship phase, they will be required to submit a Business Case Framework Document outlining their original idea in greater detail.

Phase 3: Grand Finale – Business case pitch

Grand Finale submissions are comprised of two parts:

1. Pre-Read Submission

Deadline Tuesday 6th December

With the support of your mentors, you will need to submit the following:

• Evolved business case – develop the initial Business case document you submitted for Phase 2
• Marketing Pamphlet (1 page, front and back)
• A two-minute video pitch

2. Live Presentation
Week commencing 12th December 2024, timings to be advised)

Finalists will have a 20-minute slot to make a virtual presentation to the EIA Grand Jury (10 minutes dedicated to the presentation, with 10 minutes for questions).
Post-Competition

The winning team may be asked to meet in person or virtually with media representatives from Ericsson or other publications.
Judging overview

Ideas are assessed against three key criteria: desirability, feasibility, and viability. A matrix is used to determine a score of between 1 and 10 for each of these three criteria. The weighting of each score is different depending on the stage of the competition, so be sure to review the matrixes and criteria weighting here.Type: Contest

Value of Contest:

Semi-finalists

Each of the 7 Regional Winners will receive:

• €1,000 cash prize (Including Swedish tax).
• In some cases, additional special recognition and prizes will be offered within your respective regions.

All 14 Semi-finalists – including the 7 Regional Winners – will receive:

• 8 weeks of mentorship from Ericsson experts in innovation and business.
• Recognition on Ericsson’s social and digital media.
• The possibility of being interviewed by the talent acquisition team (if any suitable positions are available at the time).
• Achievement certificate.

Finalists

All 3 Finalist teams will receive:

• An additional 4 weeks of mentorship
• Recognition across Ericsson’s social media and digital channels
• Cash prizes, as outlined below (including Swedish tax)Grand Prize Winner: 

1. €25,000
2. 2nd Place: €15,000
3. 3rd Place: €5,000

Bonus: Social Media Prize: €2,000 All 3 Finalists will have their entries uploaded onto the Instagram page of @ericssoncareers.

We will launch a voting process on this page 24 hours before the Grand Finale. The team with the most votes will win an additional €2,000 and be crowned the EIA fan favorite.

How to Apply: Enter here

Visit Contest Webpage for details