The UK Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the four finalists for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2023, which include innovations to refit motorcycles to run on batteries, a portable device to boost uterine healthcare, a method to recycle laptop batteries and produce power packs, and digital rescue networks for local communities.

The four finalists were selected from a shortlist of 15 African innovators for their proven ability to harness engineering to address common problems faced by Africans across the continent. The innovations tackle challenges central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including good health and wellbeing, affordable and clean energy, peaceful and inclusive societies, and reduced inequalities.

“Each of the 15 shortlisted innovators demonstrated an understanding of engineering as a tool to improve the quality of the lives of members of their communities. Energy and environmental solutions featured heavily among this year’s cohort, and it was clear that our innovators are committed to sustainable solutions for Africa’s development,” said technology consultancy Lonadek Global Services founder and principal consultant and Africa Prize judge Dr Ibilola Amao.

“Our four finalists [from Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda] distinguished themselves through their resolve, resilience and initiative during the Academy’s training programme, and we are privileged to endorse these proudly African entrepreneurs engaged in world-class innovation.”

Africa Prize gives commercialisation support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to address local challenges and demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development.

The finalists were chosen after receiving support over eight months to help them accelerate their businesses, including comprehensive and tailored entrepreneurship training, sector-specific engineering mentoring, communications support, pitching opportunities and access to the Academy’s network of high-profile, experienced engineers and business experts in the UK and across Africa.

FINALISTS
Nigerian electrical engineer Chukwuemeka Eze developed the Revive Kit, which is a modular electronic-mobility service used to convert gas-powered three-wheeled motorbikes to run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

The Revive Kit includes lithium-ion batteries, an alternating current induction motor, a retrofit shaft and an electronic controller, which acts as the inverter. Hall-effect sensors interface the throttle and the motor to the controller to determine and regulate motor speed. Other sensors monitor the vehicle’s battery and location, engine performance, motor temperature and maintenance requirements.

Drivers can save up to 60% in operational costs, including on gas or petrol, and 90% in maintenance costs. Eze’s company also trains technicians in the use of the kit.

The kit also includes a vehicle-to-home power adapter that can provide power to charge devices in off-grid homes or during power failures.

The modular battery and the smart battery racks can also be used by third-party agents to build battery booths for a battery-swapping network that uses mobile technology to keep drivers informed on the availability of charged batteries. This eliminates charge downtime and reduces pressure on the grid or power supply.

“With surging fuel prices in Africa, the Revive Kit aims to be part of the solution. Many drivers are spending over 60% of their revenue on petrol and maintenance, and we aim to deliver an affordable and sustainable transport system that is environment-friendly,” Eze said.

Meanwhile, South African biomedical engineer Edmund Wessels developed FlexiGyn, which is a battery-powered, portable handheld device enabling gynaecologists to diagnose and treat a woman’s uterus without anaesthesia or expensive equipment, thereby increasing women’s access to reproductive healthcare, particularly in remote areas.

Typical hysteroscopy systems are rigid, leading to high levels of patient discomfort and requiring bulky additional equipment for visualisation. This device offers a more comfortable and efficient experience for both patients and healthcare providers.

The team is also developing integrated software solutions to seamlessly connect the FlexiGyn device with existing medical practice systems. This integration connects obstetrician or gynaecologist specialists with general practitioners and increases the frequency of diagnoses.

Streamlining patient scheduling, electronic health record synchronisation and diagnosis optimises women's healthcare delivery. Improved efficiency and collaboration enable healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients more frequently, and this enhances the overall quality of care.

“The system aims to improve women’s health through better point-of-care diagnostics,” Wessels said.

Further, Tanzanian electrical engineer Gibson Kawago developed the Waga Power Pack, which is a rechargeable power source created from recycled laptop lithium-ion batteries, providing a reliable and affordable electricity source.

Batteries are tested over two to four weeks to ensure conformity to the manufacturer’s standard. Once assembled, the pack has an output of either 12, 24, 36 or 48 direct current volts, or inverted to 203 or 110 alternating current volts, suitable for different applications, including powering lights, appliances and heaters.

The battery cells are fused together with nickel strips and enclosed in an aluminium case before being connected to a battery monitoring and protection system with sensors to monitor performance and detect changes in temperature, current and voltage, which are communicated via a display screen. The system is connected to a mobile app to enable users to monitor performance.

The pack comes with ports that can be connected to inverters, solar lamps and other chargers, and can be fully recharged in up to three hours. The packs are recharged by solar panels.

“Waga Power Packs provide low-carbon power to homes and allow businesses to keep operating after sundown. Depending on the size of the battery and its purpose, it can provide electricity for anywhere from 13 hours to one month. We are striving to change the lives of Tanzanians, particularly those in resource-scarce rural areas,” Kawago said.

Meanwhile, Ugandan software engineer Anatoli Kirigwajjo developed Yunga, which is a local digital security network that connects neighbours to each other and police within a 20 km radius via a physical device, smartphone app or short-message service, thereby providing security at a low cost.

Communities are divided into networks of 10 to 30 households, each receiving a device connected to a local area network. In cases of emergency, pressing a button sets off a load alarm on all devices connected to the network, and sends a message with the victim’s details to other devices, prompting a community response.

The system includes motion sensors for when users leave their homes or businesses. Yunga also operates in areas with no Internet through a long-range wide-area network.

Yunga reduces response times from hours to the shortest time possible for members of the network to reach someone in danger.

“We hope that, with our household networks, communities will become harder targets for criminals. This will ensure safety, which in turn will create the space for economic activities to thrive,” Kirigwajjo said.

The Africa Prize, launched in 2014, is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. The ninth winner will be announced in Accra, Ghana, on July 6 and will be awarded £25 000, with the other three finalists receiving £10 000 each.

Further, the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is now open for entries.

“Individuals and small teams living and working in sub-Saharan Africa with a scalable engineering innovation to solve a local challenge are invited to enter. The deadline for entries is July 25, 2023,” the Royal Academy of Engineering announced.