Application – Innovation Challenge 2026 – African Telecommunications Union

AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ATU)
FIFTH ATU AFRICA INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026
PARTICIPANT SUBMISSION FORM

Application period: 15 September–31 October 2026

ABOUT THIS SUBMISSION

The fifth edition of the ATU Africa Innovation Challenge invites academic innovation ecosystems hosted within, or formally connected to, academic or training institutions in ATU Member States to present one Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based software innovation and demonstrate the institutional environment supporting its development. Complete all applicable fields and provide verifiable evidence where requested.

SECTION 1: APPLICANT IDENTIFICATION AND CONTACT DETAILS

1. Date of submission *

2. Name of applying academic innovation ecosystem/platform *

3. Name of host or formally connected institution *

6. Country *

8. Physical/postal address *

9. Institution official email address *

10. Institution phone number *

11. Institution website *

12. Ecosystem webpage or profile, if available

13. Lead person submitting the application *

14. Title/role of lead contact *

15. Lead contact email address *

16. Lead contact phone number *

SECTION 2:

SECTION 3:
PART A: ACADEMIC INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Part A describes the applicant ecosystem, its continuity and the institutional support available to innovators.

A1. Ecosystem/platform type *Incubation centre or innovation hubResearch lab/centreDeveloper community/clubOther

A2. Year the ecosystem/platform began operating *

A3. Approximate number of active innovators or teams currently supported *

A4. Approximate number of innovators or teams supported during the past three years *

A7. Explain how this support works in practice. Give up to two recent examples of support provided to innovators or teams. (Maximum 300 words) *0 / 300

A8. Describe the main institutional resources and partnerships available to innovators, and explain how the ecosystem identifies or nominates learners or teams for training, certification or mentorship opportunities. (Maximum 250 words) *0 / 250

A9. Evidence of institutional connection and ecosystem support. Attach a letter from the host institution confirming that the ecosystem is formally connected to the institution and describing the support it provides to innovators.

A9. Links *One link per line0 / 60

A9. Number of Documentsadd attachments

Attach Document (pdf max 500KB) *

No file chosen

Attach Document (pdf max 500KB)

No file chosen

Attach Document (pdf max 500KB)

No file chosen

Attach Document (pdf max 500KB)

No file chosen

A10. Would the host institution like to receive information on voluntary ATU academia membership? *This response is administrative only and will not affect eligibility, assessment or placement.YesNoNot at this stage

PART B:
AI-BASED SOFTWARE INNOVATION
Part B presents one AI-based software innovation through the ecosystem in Part A and identifies the innovator or team responsible for it, and the innovators should not be older than 35 years of age.

B1. Innovation and Innovator/Team Identification

B1. Title of innovation *

B2. Primary sector or field *

Lead innovator/team lead Name *

Lead innovator/team lead Role *

B4. Lead innovator Phone Number *

B4. Lead innovator Email Address *

B5. Country of principal development/testing *

B6. Core team members Names and roles: *Name & Role per line0 / 200

B7. Relationship of the lead innovator or team to the ecosystem in Part A *Currently active in the ecosystemAlumnus/alumni whose active association with the ecosystem ended no more than five years before this application, and who are not older than 35 years of age

Current/former status in ecosystem *

Date active association began *

If alumnus/alumni, date association ended *

Evidence/link confirming relationship, such as letter of admission *

No file chosen

B8. Describe the software solution and its principal functions. Explain what a user can do with it and the result the software is intended to produce. (Maximum 175 words) *0 / 175

B9. What problem does the innovation address, who are the intended users or beneficiaries, and what evidence shows that the problem is significant in an African context? Identify the digital development priority or sector most directly served. (Maximum 200 words) *0 / 200

B10. Explain the role of Artificial Intelligence in the solution. State the main AI techniques, models or tools used, what the AI component does and why AI is appropriate for the problem. (Maximum 150 words) *0 / 150

B11. What makes the solution useful or distinctive compared with existing approaches available to the intended users? (Maximum 125 words) *0 / 125

B13. What has been built, tested or used so far? Give the most relevant evidence of technical readiness, such as testing results, pilot dates, user numbers, performance measures, deployments or other milestones. (Maximum 175 words) *0 / 175

B14. Describe the high-level technical architecture. Identify the principal software components, AI models or services, data sources, hosting or cloud environment and any important external dependencies. (Maximum 150 words. A simple diagram may be attached if useful.) *0 / 150

Attach Diagram for B14? *YesNo

Attached diagram for B14 *

No file chosen

B15. How does the innovation address responsible AI and user trust? Cover the points relevant to the solution, such as data privacy and lawful data use, security, bias and fairness, transparency or explainability, human oversight, safety and error handling. (Maximum 175 words) *0 / 175

B16:
Evidence of the innovation

Provide at least one verifiable item demonstrating the current state of the solution. Examples are a recorded demonstration, repository, technical documentation, pilot report, user reference or deployment link. Proprietary source code is not required.

B16: Evidence of the innovation - Demo/product link

B16: Evidence of the innovation - Video link

B16: Evidence of the innovation - Repository/technical link, if available

B16: Other evidence attached or linked

B4:
Deployment Potential and Support Required

B17. Describe the next 12 months for the innovation. Explain the intended users or market, the next technical or product milestones, how adoption could grow, how the solution can remain sustainable as use expands, and the main indicators you would use to measure progress. (Maximum 200 words) *0 / 200

B18. Explain how the ecosystem in Part A will continue supporting this innovation. Identify the specific facilities, expertise, networks or institutional pathways that will remain available. (Maximum 125 words) *0 / 125

B19. Which forms of support would most help the innovation progress? Select up to three priorities *Training or professional certificationCybersecurity guidanceCloud, software or developer platformsEquipment for development, testing or deploymentTechnical mentorshipProduct-development supportTesting resourcesMarket or adoption guidance

B20. If selected for a winner package, identify three concrete milestones that this support would help the innovation reach. (Maximum 150 words) *0 / 150

B21. State who owns the innovation and any relevant intellectual property, software licences, third-party models, datasets or other rights that affect development or deployment. (Maximum 100 words) *0 / 100

APPLICANT DECLARATIONS

The information in this submission is accurate to the best of our knowledge and may be verified by ATU*

The ecosystem is authorised to present this innovation and the innovator or team through this application *

The lead innovator or team is currently active in the ecosystem or meets the alumni requirement stated in this form

The applicant has the right to submit the innovation and has disclosed material third-party rights or restrictions relevant to it *

If selected as a finalist, the ecosystem and innovator or team will participate in the continental final on 7 December 2026 in Zimbabwe according to the participation arrangements communicated by ATU, and that they have a passport to facilitate their travel *