Deadline: 30-Jun-23

Does your early-stage start up or project use earth observation data in its tech solution? Do you need access to funding, training and earth observation data to level up your start-up? If yes ,then apply for Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge.

The Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge is an annual open innovation challenge aimed at sourcing novel space technologies since 2016. This challenge seeks to drive entrepreneurial activity in the African space industry and promote awareness of the value of earth observation data across the continent and in multiple sectors such as water and food security, mining, logistics, insurance, and many more.

The African space-tech sector is one of the fastest-growing markets globally, but it is still significantly underexploited. This sector represents a massive investment opportunity.

The African Union has identified earth observation as a critical resource that must be leveraged in achieving Africa’s development goals.

One of the best ways to grow this sector is through an open innovation challenge.

Thematic Areas

The 2023 thematic areas include

• The 2023 AEOC aims to identify innovative applications of spacebased data across seven thematic areas, with climate change and navigation & positioning as cross-cutting areas.
• Also included for consideration, across all thematic areas, is innovative data collection techniques. These include upstream technologies like new satellites, onboard processing units and innovative insitu measurement techniques.
  • Climate Change
  • Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Energy and Minerals
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Sustainable Urban/Rural Development
  • Food Security and Agriculture
  • Satellite Navigation

Prizes

There are various prizes that will be up are for grabs for the Challenge finalists, including:

• Financial Support: Cash prizes in the form of a grant of up to $10 000 in total (to be distributed across top three winners).
• Incubation & Mentorship Icon: Incubation & Mentorship: 4-month online incubation and virtual mentorship.
• Cloud Services: Up to $ 10 000 worth of Amazon Web Services Activate credits (to be distributed across all three winners).
• Technical Support: Technical support will be available to the Challenge participants from the leading EOD specialising organisations.
• Data Packages: 3 months access to Maxar Imagery Portal Securewatch; Access to Planet Labs data & imagery for R&D use; Access to ESRI sample data, apps, notebooks, deep learning models.
• Ip Services Support: Intellectual property-related support services  from intellectual property attorneys, Von Seidels.
• Technology Subscriptions:  Various packages of subscriptions to ArcGIS, user conference pass and ESRI Imagery Summit.
• Media Publicity: Feature in interviews and editorials via selected media channels.

Outcomes

• To identify the most promising innovators, entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses across Africa and develop them into sustainable companies
• To develop Africa’s geospatial readiness so that African businesses can service African demand for geospatial intelligence

Eligibility Criteria

• Submission from businesses in any and all industries are encouraged, as long as they meet the following criteria:
  • Business Location: The Challenge is open to businesses across the African continent
• Eod Application
  • All submissions must demonstrate a clear application of EOD.
  • The 2023 AEOC aims to identify innovative applications of space-based data across seven thematic areas, with climate change and navigation & positioning as cross-cutting areas.
  • Also included for consideration, across all thematic areas, is innovative data collection techniques. These include upstream technologies like new satellites, onboard processing units and innovative in-situ measurement techniques.
• Looking for companies:
  • in Rural Development, Urban Planning, Food Safety, Sustainable Development, Climate Change, GPS navigation, Satellite Imaging & Weather Observation, Satellites, Space Data Analytics, Spacetech Services, AgriTech
  • located in Africa
  • incorporated or not
  • prototype, users or paying users stage
  • have raised funding or not
  • currently raising or not raising funds
  • have revenue or not

For more information, visit AEO.