Applications for the award are now closed INNOVATION AWARDS 2022, initiative whose purpose is to recognize and distinguish the most brilliant private and public organizations, startups, projects and professionals in the region of the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (PALOP), which, using Innovation and Technology, contribute to the business, economic and social development and for the transformation and modernization of the market(s) in the country(ies) where they operate.
With the closing of the candidacy period, on the 31st of May the competitors will be known who will move on to the final vote, coming from the public, which runs between the 1st and the 15th of July.
For this 2022 edition, it comprises 6 categories, which comprise a total of 29 awards, namely:
- Category "Corporate Innovation” – The prizes will be awarded to companies in the Financial Sectors (Banking and Insurance), Information Technology and Telecommunications, located and operating in the PALOP space, for the quality and scope of innovation and digital transformation strategies and their harmony with the strategy corporate verifiable by its projects and results;
- Category "Financial Inclusion” – Prizes will be awarded to the best Corporate and Startups initiatives located and operating in the PALOP space, for the quality, scope, notoriety and social impact verifiable by the actual results or the potential of the digital/technological projects promoted by them;
- Category "Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem” – Prizes will be awarded to the best initiatives of players of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation ecosystems of the PALOP region, in the different subcategories, evaluating the quality, reach, notoriety, results and relevance of these players in the ecosystem, including organizations responsible for support programs at the level of access to financing mechanisms, exposure and market creation;
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- Category "Startups” – Prizes will be awarded to Startups with high-impact solutions to relevant market problems, in their social and economic dimension, evaluated by verified or potential results;
- Category "Apps " – Prizes will be awarded to the best Apps existing in the PALOP region, evaluating the quality in terms of UX, traction, notoriety and data security;
- Category "Special" – The prizes will be awarded to an outstanding team or entrepreneur for the quality, disruption, notoriety, economic performance and social impact of the implemented entrepreneurship and innovation project.
According to the information that the editorial staff of MenosFios had access to, Organizations, Startups, Projects and Professionals that meet the requirements set out in the Regulation on the official website of the INNOVATION AWARDS 2022.
The panel of judges for the INNOVATION AWARDS 2022 is made up of specialist professionals in the field of innovation and technology, with experience and international exposure and knowledge of the PALOP markets, namely:
- Matteo Rizzi, Co-Founder of FTSGroup.eu and Venture Partner, Bamboo Capital Partners;
- Sarah Owusu, Co-founder of InkDot – Innovation Consulting;
- Helga Saraiva-Stewart, Founder SalesShaker.com and B2B Sales Education & Acceleration;
- Tiago Cardoso, Executive Director of Nguzu Project; and
- Milton Cabral, PMO at Cabo Verde Digital.
