Presidential African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition 2026 for Young Africans (Cash Prize of USD120,000)

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Applications are open for Presidential African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition 2026. 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), the program is honoured to be hosted by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). A continental and global leader in digital transformation, Egypt continues to set the pace in AI readiness and innovation leadership, driving bold national initiatives that strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem and advance digital industrialization at scale.

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.

Presidential African Youth in AI and Robotics Competition Benefits

Participants and finalists will receive:

Opportunity to compete for cash prizes worth up to $120,000
Continental and global recognition
Exposure to investors, policymakers, and industry leaders
Networking opportunities across Africa
Potential commercialization and incubation support
Startup acceleration opportunities
Global visibility for winning innovations
Recognition opportunities at international technology events.

Terms and Conditions

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.
Judging Criteria:
- Projects will be evaluated based on innovation, functionality, and impact.
- Judges’ decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
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
Data Privacy:
- Personal information collected during registration will be handled securely.
- Participants’ data will only be used for competition-related communication.
Organiser’s Rights:
- The organizers reserve the right to modify rules and guidelines if necessary.
- Failure to prove your work’s concept and originality will disqualify you.
- In unforeseen circumstances, the competition may be canceled or postponed.
Contact Information:
- For inquiries, contact innovationhub@ele-vate.co.za
- Please note that Group Entries must be submitted by the group leader and the project paper must indicate that it is a group
- project listing all the team members. Kindly respond to your submission acknowledgement email with your prototype or project paper.