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awards, competition, Events, Opportunities

ELE-VATE AI AFRICA: PRESIDENTIAL AFRICAN YOUTH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ROBOTICS COMPETITION 

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Application Deadline: 30 June 2026 at 21:45 GMT (Deadline extended)

LOCATION: Egypt

The Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition is a flagship continental initiative advancing Africa’s leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) through Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Emerging Technologies. Co-convened by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and Ele-vate AI Africa, the initiative unites policy, industry, and innovation to empower Africa’s youth and accelerate inclusive, technology-driven development.

For the Third Edition (2026), they are honoured to be hosted by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).

ELIGIBILITY:

This competition connects young innovators with investors, policymakers, and industry pioneers, driving real-world applications of AI and automation while influencing regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms to accelerate Africa’s digital and industrial evolution. With AUDA-NEPAD, Ele-vate AI, and the AU Member states championing this movement, the Presidential African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition stands as a beacon of Africa’s commitment to technological sovereignty, economic resilience, and global innovation leadership turning potential into prosperity.

Submissions OPEN! The call for submissions for the Third Edition of the Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition 2026 is now OPEN!

The Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics competition is open to all African Union (AU) Member States. The AU is made up of 55 Member States which represent all the countries on the African continent. The Competition features 12 categories covering some of the most crucial sectors in Africa’s development along with a Prestigious Presidential award.

Eligibility:
 Participants must be African youth aged between 15 and 35 years. Applicants under the age of 18 are required to provide written consent from a Parent or Legal guardian.
Teams or individuals can enter the competition.
Registration:
 Applications open on the 10th of February 2026 at 10:00 GMT.
 Provide accurate information; any falsification will result in disqualification.
 Only projects that meet the category specified, terms and conditions will be contacted.
Project Submission Deadline:
Submit AI or robotics projects by 30th of June 2026 at 21:45 GMT (Deadline extended)
Projects must align with the competition theme and guidelines.
Intellectual Property:
Participants retain ownership of their projects.
The organisers may use project details for promotional purposes.
Code of Conduct:
Respectful and ethical behaviour is expected.
Any form of cheating or plagiarism will lead to disqualification.

BENEFIT:

 Prizes:
  Prizes will be awarded based on merit.
  All finalists will be informed via email and announced publicly on our Social Media platforms (Currently available on X and LinkedIn) on the 17th of September 2026.

Final Event Attendance:
Finalists must attend the virtual or physical award ceremony.
Unavailability / no response (Unreachable) may result in the forfeiture of prizes.
Presidential Awards finalists will recieve Global recognition at United Nations International Telecommunication Union ‘s AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva 07-10th July 2026 
Presidential Awards Ceremony (live) 12th -13th October 2026
Virtual Awards Ceremony October 2026

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awards, competition, Events, Opportunities

THE CENTRE FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT  HUNTER PRIZE

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Application Deadline: August 3rd, 2026

LOCATION: Canada

The Hunter Prize for Public Policy aims to shake up Canadian policymaking by marshalling fresh ideas, energy, and voices to take on a clearly-defined “wicked problem” and improve the economic and social well-being of Canadians. The Hunter Prize is an initiative of the Centre for Civic Engagement. The Hub is the project’s media partner.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Problem:

A “wicked problem” is an issue or challenge that is difficult to solve for three reasons: (1) it involves interconnected economic, cultural, and social factors, (2) it tends to be long-term in nature, and (3) its possible solutions can be contentious due to entrenched thinking and interests.

A wicked problem currently hampering Canada’s long-term economic prospects is the decline in entrepreneurship and business dynamism.

How does this work?

Entrants are asked to consider our topic and challenge below, then provide a short synopsis of their policy proposal. All entries will be adjudicated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Jeff Adamson, Bram Belzberg, Zita Cobb, Lucy Hargreaves, and Charles Lammam. The judges will select 10 finalists to further refine and develop their ideas before vying for $50,000 in cash prizes and the chance to translate their idea into actionable public policy. The Hunter Prize submission period is open until August 2, 2026.

Submissions are limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and individuals on refugee, student, or work visas.

Canadian citizens living abroad can apply.

Entries can be made in English or French.

Rules and Expectations:

Initial submissions should be 1,500 words or less. Entry directions will be provided on the submission form.

If your initial submission is selected as one of ten finalists, you will be asked to produce a longer-form policy proposal (approximately 2,500-3,000 words) that further develops and refines your idea, including cost estimates, implementation plans, etc. Finalists will also be asked to produce an op-ed-style article in support of their proposal to be published at TheHub.ca.

Figures and tables cannot be included in the initial submission. However, if selected to be a finalist, figures and tables can be included in the longer-form papers.

Submissions can be co-authored, and the details of all authors should be included in the submission. Any potential winnings will be split among authors.

The Hunter Prize will only accept one submission per author.

    BENEFIT:

    The Hunter Prize will include $50,000 in prizes to be awarded.

    The winner will receive a cash prize of $25,000 to translate their idea into public policy. The runner-up will receive a $5,000 prize. Those placing 3 through 10 will receive prizes of $2,500.

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