Deadline Extended: Apply to the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing by August 21st!
Milken-Motsepe Green Energy Prize

Meet the Finalists: Stories from the Field: Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy

The Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy competition launched at the Milken Institute Middle East and Africa Summit in November 2022. Aiming to reward innovators working to expand access to reliable, affordable, sustainable energy in Africa, more than 160 teams from around the world entered, and 20 semifinalist teams from 36 countries were chosen to prove the effectiveness of their ideas in field tests. Five finalists, including the teams below, were selected to advance in the competition and deploy their technologies in a live demonstration in South Africa in February 2024.

In addition to receiving funds to test their innovations and a variety of special benefits, finalists are competing for the $1 million Grand Prize, which will be announced at the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2024.

Meet the finalists, and learn more about what inspired them to participate in this one-of-a-kind competition program here.

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Africa Business Communities: Milken-Motsepe Prize Program launches $2 million AI & Manufacturing Challenge

Building on a track record of innovation in AgriTech, FinTech, and Sustainability, the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have unveiled their boldest challenge yet: the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing. With $2 million in total prize money, including a $1 million Grand Prize, the global competition aims to catalyze cutting-edge solutions that harness artificial intelligence, data analytics, and smart manufacturing to transform Africa’s industrial landscape. The announcement was made during the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference, where the prize was positioned as a game-changer for local production, supply chain resilience, and inclusive job creation across the continent. Read the full article here.

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$2 Million Milken-Motsepe Prize Launched to Spur AI-Driven Manufacturing in Africa

A new $2 million equity-free prize program, backed by South African billionaire Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the Milken Institute, is placing artificial intelligence and manufacturing at the heart of Africa’s technology ambitions. Unveiled at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing marks the fourth—and most ambitious—edition in a growing series of innovation challenges designed to tackle Africa’s structural issues through technology. This round turns a sharp focus to artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing—two sectors where African participation has remained limited despite strong global momentum. Read the full article here.

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