From May 24th to May 26th 2018, Viva Technology will bring together 6,000 startups with top worldwide investors, companies & tech leaders in Paris, France. Leading pharmaceutical company, Sanofi is calling for entries to the Afric@Tech start-ups challenge targeted at innovators in the medical and healthcare sectors in Africa. The competition is open until 15 February 2018.

The Sanofi at Africa@Tech comprises three challenges aimed at providing innovative and adapted solutions to improve access to medicine and healthcare in Africa. Initiated by Sanofi in all African countries, this contest will help in identifying, rewarding and accompanying the best start-ups in their goal of revolutionizing practices in the health sector in Africa.

“For over 50 years, we have been committed to improving access to medicines and healthcare for all African communities and people. We feel it is our responsibility to accompany, develop and shine a light on these talented South African start-ups”, says Thibault Crosnier Leconte, Country Chair and RX General Manager, Sanofi South Africa

The competition is segmented as follows:

• The first challenge focuses on bringing a solution for earlier diagnostics of non-communicable diseases, one of the main growing health concerns, finding and treating people at early stage with new technologies can improve quality of life and even save lives.
• As Africa is witnessing a major evolution on the telecommunications field, the second challenge focuses on how telemedicine can improve the access to healthcare on the continent, by overcoming challenges of distance, time and lack of resources.
• Finally, the last challenge deals with the stake of improving the education of health professionals in the field of chronic diseases in Africa. It focuses on finding solutions so they can get access to the last clinical information (such as advanced therapies).

The contest is free and open to all South African start-ups. Applications can be completed  online. Candidates can apply online until February 15 on the following platform:

https://challenges.vivatechnology.com/en/challenges/sanofi-in-africa?lang=en

In March 2018, a jury will select the African start-ups that will participate in this innovation journey. Start-ups will be evaluated on 5 criteria: a concrete proof of positive results in at least one African country, the maturity of the project, the relevance of the solution, the potential of the market and of the business model, the competences, the expertise and the experience of the team, and lastly, scientific proof that it can be implemented.

Selected start-ups will be able to attend the Sanofi in Africa Lab in Afric@Tech. They will present their projects in front of a jury and will be able to demonstrate their solutions in front of the audience of VivaTech.

The selected projects could also benefit from financial assistance and individual support from Sanofi, through a system of coaching and mentoring.

Those 3 challenges are part of Sanofi’s strategy to accompany and to encourage innovation in Africa. They represent a concrete way to contribute locally through the support provided to the most audacious and innovative entrepreneurs, in the achievement of their projects.