Siemens Stiftung, a foundation operated by Siemens the telecoms equipment giant has again turned its attention to promoting the spread of electric transportation on the African continent. To accelerate innovation in that sector, the company is launching the first edition of its contest tagged E-Mobility Innovation Call. The theme is Electric Mobility Made in Africa for Africa.
Siemens hopes to spur home-grown innovations to move the e-mobility space forward, including manufacturing and service delivery, rather than importing tech from outside Africa. Up to 50,000 euros are up for grabs in pre-seed funding.
Applicants that are of African origins are encouraged to apply from all over the continent, as long as they are pursuing green fuel transportation goals. They could already be generating revenues or simply have a ready and workable business model. Having visible female members on the team is a plus.
Applicants can choose any of the following fields to compete in:
- Manufacturing
- Charging, batteries, and the circular economy
- Business development
- Services (apps, customer engagement, delivery services)
A select jury drawn from a cross section of the business community of both local and international flavors will determine the eventual winners. Siemens is going to support the winning teams by promoting their companies to a wider audience.
Siemens is committed to promoting “inclusive, digital, and socio-economic growth of African entrepreneurs and social businesses in electric mobility and the circular economy.” The company is already in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Shell Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 to achieve their stated goals.
Deadline for application is 30th of April 2021. The contest, which will be virtual, will take place in May or June. Winners will be announced in July. For applications go to:
Written by D.O. for www.ShargeMe.blog