We have learnt that the deadline for submission of entries to the 2015 MTN Innovation Awards has been extended by a week from 22nd to 29th October. This is to allow those who are preparing submissions to have more time to prepare well and put their best foot forward.
MTN Innovation Awards was launched last week as a platform through which MTN Uganda will recognize the most outstanding locally developed mobile and desktop applications, as well as individuals and organisations that have been at the forefront of enabling the innovation ecosystem in the country.
The awards will recognize the best applications in eight categories, namely health, education, financial services, SME solutions, enterprise development with three special categories that will award an outstanding woman in innovation, most innovative app and the achiever of the year.
The awards are open to applications and solutions that have been existing on the market for at least one year.
Award Categories:
While making the announcement, Mapula Bodibe, the Chief Marketing Officer said, “With the MTN Innovation Awards, we would like to recognize excellence. We shall be looking out for applications that have already been launched and have been used with measurable impact.”
She also explained that the applications must address a problem or opportunity as defined in the respective Award category.
The Outstanding Woman in Innovation and Innovation Achiever of the Year awards will recognize individuals or organizations that have been in the innovation space for at least 4 years. The individuals/organizations must have implemented impactful initiatives that are still actively running and have had positive results.[related-posts]
Below is the detailed information on each category to help you prepare well your submission and increase your chances of winning:
- Best Health Application
This Award will recognize Applications that aim to extend reach, accessibility and efficiency in delivering health services. The app must address both consumers of health services & providers of health services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence features to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
- Best Education Application
This Award will recognize Applications that are transforming the Experience and Reach of Education to ordinary Ugandans. The app must address both consumers of education services & providers of education services and demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
- Best Financial Services Application
This Award will recognize Applications that are enabling any financial Inclusion. The app must address both consumers of financial services & providers of financial services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency
- Best SME Application
This award seeks to recognize Applications that aim to deliver improved productivity in the SME sector. The app must address both consumers of services & providers of services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
- Best Enterprise Effort to support Innovation
This category seeks to recognize efforts of organizations and NGOs to drive innovation in the ICT space. It looks at organizations that are taking deliberate effort to support activities of Universities, Tertiary institutions and Individuals in Application development efforts. These organizations are encouraging adoption through activities that include funding of local innovation initiatives, testing of innovation, supporting incubation programs, etc.
- Most Innovative Mobile App
The Mobile phone has been central to the transformation of Uganda and the region as a whole. Today the mobile phone is not just a tool of Communication but rather a channel to Transfer Money, Buy and Sell goods, access Entertainment, etc.: This award seeks to recognize mobile applications that drive transformation, innovation and development. The application may or may not be from any of the categories indicated above.
- Outstanding Woman in Innovation
This is award seeks to recognize Women that are demonstrating a leading role in defining innovations in Uganda, including Mobile Application Innovations that they have developed or other initiatives using technology that they are leading to contribute towards building the eco-system.
- Innovation Achiever of the Year
This is a special Award to recognize an Individual or private Entity that has had significant impact in defining, enabling and influencing the Innovation Eco-system in Uganda through local initiatives and activities aimed at driving innovation using technology.
Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and announced at the Awards Gala on November 13th 2015. They will receive several prizes including a cash prize of $1,000.
