Under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Elevate AI Africa Initiative, and as part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to advance digital transformation and foster innovation across the African continent, Egypt is hosting the Third African Youth Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition.
By hosting this prestigious event, Egypt continues to reinforce its position as a regional leader in digital innovation through the implementation of national initiatives and the adoption of a forward-looking vision that promotes an integrated ecosystem for advanced technologies. This reflects Egypt’s commitment to empowering African youth, strengthening cooperation among African nations, and accelerating the transition toward a competitive, knowledge-based economy.
The competition is organized with the participation of several regional and international institutions, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and a number of leading global companies in the information and communications technology sector.
Recognized as one of Africa’s flagship initiatives, the competition aims to enhance the continent’s leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by encouraging young innovators aged 18 to 35 to develop solutions powered by artificial intelligence, robotics, and emerging technologies to address Africa’s developmental challenges and advance sustainable development.
The competition serves as an interactive platform that helps transform innovative ideas into practical applications while providing valuable networking opportunities for young innovators, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. It also supports the development of regulatory frameworks and financing mechanisms that drive digital transformation and industrialization across Africa, in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The competition focuses on key development priorities, including ending hunger and enhancing food security, preventing and controlling diseases within the framework of public health, protecting Africa’s space assets and strengthening digital connectivity, and building knowledge-based, innovation-driven societies.
This year’s edition features 12 thematic tracks spanning critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, mining, climate action, construction and architecture, financial technology (FinTech), AI ethics, robotics design, quantum computing, and an open innovation category.
The competition’s highest distinction, the Presidential Award, is presented to the most exceptional innovations demonstrating the potential to generate sustainable, measurable impact and promote inclusive growth across the continent. Finalists for this award will be honored at the AI for Good Global Summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in July.
The deadline for submissions is June 30. For further information, please click here.
