São Paulo – Egyptian scientist Mohamed Sanad, a professor at the University of Cairo’s College of Engineering, won the Innovation Prize for Africa 2012. He developed internal aerials integrated into mobile phones to reduce the exposure of the human body to the radiation of devices, according to an article published by African news agency Panapress. The runner up was the Algerian Zeinou Abdelyamine, creator of solar torches.
The award is a joint initiative of the African Innovation Foundation and of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and its objective is to recognize innovative developments that contribute to the creation of products that are beneficial and less costly for the African continent. Sanad and Abdelyamine were granted their awards at a ceremony in the sidelines of the Conference of Ministers of Finance of Africa, this week, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mohamed Sanad operates in the Engineering and Computer Studies department at the College of Engineering of the University of Cairo and teaches aerial design. He is considered a specialist in aerial technology, has several patents in the area and has already worked for large telephony organisations like Nokia and Motorola. The award won by the Egyptian was worth US$ 100,000.
The Algerian Abdelyamine won US$ 50 mil in recognition of his work. The scientist operates in solar energy projects and created torches that operate with solar energy for low-income families that are deprived of electricity. The industrial chemical scientist has a company called Bait Bit and two patents for insecticides. He develops work on ecological insecticides and raticides.
They awards were granted by the United Nations joint secretary general and executive secretary at the CEA, Abdoulie Janneh, and the co-founder of the African Innovation Foundation, Jean Claude Bastos de Morais. In total, 458 professionals from 38 countries ran for the award. Apart from the Egyptian and the Moroccan, the award had five other finalists, from Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Angola.
*Translated by Mark Ament
