Within the framework of the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8), the African Development Bank's North Africa Office supported some African initiatives that promote innovation, start-ups, and scientific research.
A hackathon on artificial intelligence
'AI Hack Tunisia', one of the largest hackathons dedicated to artificial intelligence in Africa and the Middle East, was held in Tunis from 29 to 31 August 2022. This event, initiated by Google, Instadeep, the Tunisian government and other partners, highlighted and revealed the potential of the youth in Africa and the Middle East. The African Development Bank sponsored six candidates, including four students from the 1337 Coding School of the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco.
The sponsored students included Khalid Benlyazid, 24 years old, who came second after decrypting the codes of Enegma encryption machines.
Ayoub Mkhantar, just 25 years old, disclosed that he has already created several start-ups: "Some have not survived, others have potential." The unrelenting young man has launched his start-up, "livreurist.com," a virtual platform for connecting sellers, buyers, and deliverymen.
International Championship of Invention and Scientific Research
The Bank also contributed to the International Championship of Invention and Scientific Research held on 1 September 2022 as a side event of TICAD8. Experts from the Bank were members of the jury, which awarded prizes to two top African candidates.
Besma Hadj Kacem, a Tunisian national, won the first prize in the "invention" category for creating a pharmaceutical preparation with strong anti-hemorrhagic properties. Another Tunisian, Yosr Ghozzi, won the first prize in the "scientific research" category for developing an application to search for similar dysmorphic images.
The head of the Tunisian government, Nejla Boudena, presided over the award ceremony.
The Bank intends to help the winners develop their research and innovation results. Accordingly, it plans to sponsor their participation in the 3rd African Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation slated for Côte d'Ivoire in early 2023.
All the young participants, including Hafsa Ouifak, a doctoral student in Artificial Intelligence at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University of Morocco, said the event has enriched their experience and helped expand their network beyond their home countries.
As the leading development finance institution in Africa, the African Development Bank also supports international initiatives that promote research and innovation with a view to contributing to the continent's development.
