Johnson & Johnson Africa Innovation Challenge for Consumer Health Entrepreneurs 2017

Johnson and Johnson’s Africa Innovation Challenge (AIC), an initiative to support Africa’s vibrant and growing innovation ecosystem is now accepting submissions to the AIC 2017 challenge. Individuals and companies that have locally sustainable consumer health solutions can submit their solutions to receive funding and mentorship from Johnson & Johnson.

Eligible Countries: Countries in Africa

Eligible Fields: There are three different categories, however you can apply to all three:

• Promoting Early Child Development & Maternal Health: Improving maternal health helps nurture happy, healthy babies and generates positive child development. We are looking for non-pharmaceutical product and technology solutions that will help ensure women and newborns in Africa stay healthy during pregnancy, childbirth and throughout child development.
• Empowering Young Girls: Access to good education and basic needs such as feminine care products is important to make sure young girls across Africa realize their full potential. We are looking for consumer product, technology and educational innovations that address these needs, making a brighter future possible for young women.
• Improving Family Well–being: Families need reliable healthcare information and access to healthcare professionals and effective products in order to thrive. We are searching for innovative technology-driven solutions that help promote access to healthcare knowledge, advice and products and enhance the well-being of consumers in Africa.

About the Award: With its focus on consumer health care, the Africa Innovation Challenge will help tackle important issues impacting local communities. We are looking for an idea that has a clear project plan to progress towards commercialization. Commercialization is the process of introducing a new product or solution into commerce – making it available on the market. As you are submitting your application, you will find a downloadable project plan template that will guide you step-by-step so that we can better understand the feasibility of your idea. If you have a business plan to share, that is great.

Eligibility: 

• Any and all citizens or permanent residents of a country in Africa, aged 18 years or older, who may have an innovative solution and detailed project plan, are welcome to apply.
• You could be a student at a university or an engineer in the field. If you think you have a great idea, we want to hear from you.
• Early-stage startups or projects that have currently raised less than the equivalent of US $100,000 (for example: equity funding, public funding and/or grants) can also apply.

Selection Criteria: One or more individuals, teams or companies from Africa are encouraged to make their submissions. Solutions will be evaluated based on their ability to meet the following criteria:

• Solution submission addresses at least one of the three critical health areas mentioned earlier.
• Submission must be innovative and creative.
• Submission must be scalable.
• Submission outlines a commercialization plan and how the award would help the applicant reach a critical milestone within the timeframe of a single yea

Participant(s) with the best solutions will receive up to $100,000 in funding and mentorship from scientists, engineers and researchers in the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Research & Development organization. The winner(s) of the challenge could also receive dedicated space at a lab facility in Africa throughout their product or service development, dependent on the needs of the solution submission.

How to Apply: 

To apply to the challenge, visit the Africa Innovation Challenge application page

Application Deadline: 17th January, 2017

Award recipients will be announced in February 2017.

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