Call for Exhibitors: ACE 10th Anniversary Celebration

Overview

The Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program, a World Bank initiative aimed at strengthening higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa, was established in 2014 in close collaboration with African governments. The program supports universities in building capacity to address regional development challenges through quality education and research. This year, the ACE Program is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.

As part of the 10th Anniversary celebration, a Innovation Exhibition has been scheduled for April 7th -9th, 2025, at Labadi Beach Hotel. This exhibition will serve as a platform for ACE centers to showcase their groundbreaking research, innovative projects, and impactful initiatives. The session will foster engagement among academia, industry, policymakers, and development partners, emphasizing the role of ACEs in driving socio-economic development.

The exhibition aims to highlight the centers’ transformative impact on regional development, facilitate strategic industry partnerships, and showcase their contributions to cultivating a skilled and agile workforce that will propel Africa’s advancement. The exhibition will focus on the broader thematic areas of the ACE Program, including Agriculture, Applied Science/Statistics, Education, Industry, Environment, Health, and STEM.

Who is coming ?

The exhibitors will have opportunity to connect, have interactive demonstrations with over 500 participants, including high-level dignitaries such as the World Bank Vice President and Managers, Ministers of Higher Education, investment and development partners, as well as prominent academic and industry leaders.

Objectives

To highlight ACE-led research and innovations that address national and regional challenges.
To demonstrate the real-world impact of ACE initiatives on specific sector industries, communities and individuals.
To facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders. • To create opportunities for industry and private sector partnerships with the centers.

Exhibition Format

Exhibitors are expected to come along with their innovations or protypes (if the products are immobile or too large to transport) or posters/graphical representations for research breakthroughs. Exhibition booths and tables will be provided to facilitate the demonstration.

Expected Outcomes

The ACE@10 research and innovation exhibition is expected to increase the visibility and impact of ACE-led research-driven innovations while strengthening linkages between academia, industry, and policymakers. It will enhance opportunities for funding, investment, and the commercialization of innovations, fostering a more dynamic African innovation ecosystem. Additionally, the event will generate policy recommendations to support innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring a conducive environment for growth in African Universities. Lastly, it will contribute to capacity-building efforts for young innovators and researchers, equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to drive future advancements.

Requirements for Exhibitors

Must be an ACE center- student, alumni, researcher, or faculty member.
Innovation must align with the broad thematic areas of the ACE Program: Agriculture, Applied Science/Statistics, Education, Industry, Environment, Health, and STEM.
Innovation must address a specific community, national, or regional challenge.
Participants must be prepared to bring the prototypes or tangible representations of their innovations for display.
Participants must be able to present or demonstrate their research breakthroughs and products.
Centers that have achieved research breakthroughs but lack tangible innovations must provide detailed information, (highlighting the problem, intervention process, solution, and the impact of the solution), if they wish to showcase their impact through a poster.

Application Process

Interested centers/ students should follow link :

https://forms.office.com/r/nckzM40vd9 to complete the application form. Information required includes a brief overview of their research breakthroughs and innovations, photos/ videos of research innovations to be exhibited.

All applications must be submitted by March 20, 2025.

Selection Process

All applications will be subject to a rigorous and competitive review process conducted by the review team. Given the limited spaces available for exhibition, priority will be given to centers whose innovations and research provide practical solutions to regional challenges.

Selected centers/students will be contacted.

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Millicent Afriyie Adjei (AAU/ACE Impact)

Email: makyei@aau.org

Phone: +233206580069

Agnes Asiimwe (IUCEA/ ACE II)

Email: aasiimwe@iucea.org

Phone: +256783724489