CAPE TOWN, South Africa,
Nov. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As
part of its longstanding commitment to Africa, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:
JNJ) today announced the launch of the Africa
Innovation Challenge, an initiative to support Africa's vibrant and growing innovation
ecosystem and to help develop important and locally
sustainable consumer health solutions. The
challenge is the latest initiative in the
company's comprehensive approach to advancing health and
innovation worldwide. The Johnson & Johnson Family of
Companies' presence in Africa
dates back more than 80 years and includes business operations,
public health programs and corporate citizenship.
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"Through the Africa Innovation Challenge, we have the
opportunity to support the continent's top entrepreneurs through
mentorship and other resources, and by working together with local
talent, to bring forward new solutions to local health care
challenges," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Executive Vice
President and Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson.
Earlier this year, Johnson & Johnson announced its
global public health (GPH) strategy in Cape Town, South Africa, where its companies
also opened their GPH operations headquarters. The
operations expand upon the company's legacy and presence
in Africa, which began in 1936, and brings additional
investments to the more than 1,500 employees and three
manufacturing sites within the Johnson & Johnson Family of
Companies already present on the continent.
"Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of
families and communities around the world," said Josh Ghaim, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer,
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. "With its focus on consumer
health care, the Africa Innovation Challenge will help to surface
important issues impacting local communities. We look forward
to engaging with the continent's top entrepreneurs and scientists,
and through collaboration, helping advance their ideas and bringing
meaningful solutions across three very important health care
areas."
The Africa Innovation Challenge seeks novel ideas that
focus on three critical health areas: promoting early child
development and maternal health; empowering young women; and
improving family well-being. Challenge participant(s)
with the best solutions will receive up to US $100,000 in funding and mentorship from
scientists, engineers and researchers in the Johnson & Johnson
Consumer Research & Development organization.
"The Africa Innovation Challenge is an exciting initiative for
our entrepreneurial and scientific communities," said
Thomas Maina Kariuki, Ph.D., Director, Alliance for
Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa, African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
"The challenge provides the kind of mentorship and resources
that can really advance an entrepreneur's vision, and it showcases
the terrific young talent across Africa. AAS is proud to support
this initiative and we look forward to collaborating
throughout the challenge."
The winner(s) of the challenge could also receive dedicated
space at a lab facility in Africa
throughout their product or service development, dependent on the
needs of the solution submission. Award recipients will be
announced in February 2017.
Challenge submissions may originate from anywhere in
Africa, and from one or more
individuals, teams or companies; subject to certain eligibility
requirements set out in the terms and conditions for the challenge.
Solutions will be evaluated based on their ability to meet the
following criteria:
- Solution submission addresses at least one of the three
challenge categories: Promoting Early Child Development &
Maternal Health in Africa;
Empowering Young Girls in Africa;
Improving Family Well-being in Africa
- Submission is innovative and creative
- Submission is scalable
- Submission outlines a commercialization plan and how the award
would help the applicant reach a critical milestone within the
timeframe of a single year
To apply to the challenge and review the applicable terms and
conditions, please visit the Africa Innovation Challenge website.
The deadline to submit applications is January 17, 2017.
Neither Johnson & Johnson nor any of its companies is
granted any rights to applicant ideas as a result of their
participation in the challenge. Applicants and winners remain
free to continue the further development of their ideas on their
own.
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time, inspires and unites the
people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science -
bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the
health and well-being of people. Our approximately 126,900
employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson operating
companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of
over a billion people every day, throughout the world.
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson