The Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, (RWESCK) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is implementing Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Impact Project with funding from the World Bank and the Ghana Government to strengthen higher education and research in water resources, water supply and sanitation innovations. RWESCK is seeking for digital innovation ideas on water and environmental sanitation with special focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 12, 13, and 15.

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are students, alumni, young faculty members and members of the public.Applicants must be two-to-four-member team but MUST have a student or an alumni of RWESCK and at least one female as part of their team.

Competitive Selection and Grant Award

Three to Five Winners will receive Grant Award to develop prototype for business start-up. Please visit for full details of this innovation challenge.

Application Submission

All applications must be submitted to the Centre for Business Development not later than June , 2021 .

Applications are to be submitted through the online platform provided: http://bit.ly/rwesckapplicationform

You may contact Centre for Business Development (CBD), KNUST for further information, Email address: cbd@knust.edu.gh Mobile: 0247142782.

CALL FOR DIGITAL INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN WATER AND SANITATIONBackgroundThe Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, (RWESCK) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is implementing Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Impact Project with funding from the World Bank and the Ghana Government to strengthen higher education and research in water resources, water supply and sanitation innovations. RWESCK is seeking for digital innovation ideas on water and environmental sanitation with special focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 12, 13, and 15.

Innovation ChallengeThis innovation challenge is based on one of the core mandates of RWESCK: drive Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovations within the water and sanitation sector to improve service delivery by working with all stakeholders. As part of these e�orts RWESCK is inviting students, faculty members and the public working within the Water and Environmental Sanitation sector to submit innovative idea proposals that addresses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 17.

Challenge ScopeWe are looking for innovators with solutions that accelerate national development priorities especially in the areas of (SDGs) 6, 12, 13 and 15. Also, innovators with ideas that create digital impact in their communities. Speci�cally, this call is seeking new innovations in key areas, but not limited to the following:• Machine learning and arti�cial intelligence (AI) applications in water and sanitation• Application of IoT (Internet of Things) in data collection and monitoring of water and environmental Systems• Designing SMART meters and sensors to improve on water supply systems management and irrigation water management.• Early warning Flood Monitoring Systems• Automatic weather stations and early warning system for rainfall prediction for farmers• SMART stations for monitoring stream�ow and water quality of rivers• ICT SMART Water and Air Quality Sensors for measurement, data collection and e�ciency management• ICT SMART systems for solid waste customers database, revenue collection, full cost recovery and e�ciency management,• Development of machines for converting food waste into animal feed and nutrients- rich compost.• Development of machines for converting wastes into construction products (tiles, blocks, etc)• Development of low-cost onsite sanitation prefabricated dry toilet products for rural and urban poor communities,• Innovative sanitation service delivery for rural and urban communities• Development of low-cost prefabricated wastewater treatment products for rural and urban poor communities,• Development of Robotics for managing water losses in distribution system and non- revenue water.• Development of ceramic and polymer membrane modules for industrial wastewater and drinking water treatment,• SMART technology for monitoring functionality of rural hand pumps and maintenance,• SMART technology for nation-wide mapping and monitoring of groundwater, boreholes constructed and borehole water abstraction and recharge.

The Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi, (RWESCK) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is implementing Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Impact Project with funding from the World Bank and the Ghana Government to strengthen higher education and research in water resources, water supply and sanitation innovations. RWESCK is seeking for digital innovation ideas on water and environmental sanitation with special focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 12, 13, and 15.

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are students, alumni, young faculty members and members of the public.Applicants must be two-to-four-member team but MUST have a student or an alumni of RWESCK and at least one female as part of their team.

Competitive Selection and Grant Award

Three to Five Winners will receive Grant Award to develop prototype for business start-up. Please visit for full details of this innovation challenge.

Application Submission

All applications must be submitted to the Centre for Business Development not later than June , 2021 .

Applications are to be submitted through the online platform provided: http://bit.ly/rwesckapplicationform

You may contact Centre for Business Development (CBD), KNUST for further information, Email address: cbd@knust.edu.gh Mobile: 0247142782.

CALL FOR DIGITAL INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN WATER AND SANITATION

CALL FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN WATER AND SANITATION

Applicant EligibilityEligible applicants can be students, faculty members and members of the public with innovative business ideas in the Water and Environmental Sanitation sector.

Application and Selection ProcessRWESCK selects projects through a competitive, objective and transparent two-stage application process. Stage one invites applicants to submit Concept Notes of their innovative idea (s) using the template attached. After an eligibility veri�cation, Concept Notes will be scored and the most promising will be shortlisted based on both qualitative evaluation criteria and key performance indicators (KPIs), related to the number of decent jobs created.Stage two: Ten (10) shortlisted applicants will be informed to develop a detailed business model, business plan and participate in a �nal pitching session.

Evaluation Criteria• Originality: Your idea must be original.• Creativity/innovation: Your idea must be innovative and unique.• Sustainability: You must clearly describe the ways in which the activity or project will be able to continue.• Business Viability: Your idea must be pro�table, realistic and logical, with evidence- based market survey and research data,• Impact: Your idea must fall within the scope of the challenge. Your submission should consider cross-cutting impacts, problems, and relevant solutions.

Grant AwardThree to Five Winners who get selected will receive a grant prize of Twenty-Five thousand (GHS 25,000) to Fifty thousand (GHS 50,000) paid into a business account to invest into their project, prototype development, business registration and start-up. Additionally, winners will qualify for an incubation period of six (6) months at the Kumasi Business Incubator to ensure further development of their project. RWESCK and private sector investors will partner the team with the most novel and �nancially viable business proposal to start-up and commence business.Support in identifying new partnership opportunities and networking with potential buyers, investors, industry partners and government representatives.

Application Date and DeadlineChallenge submission deadline: September 15, 2021Sorting and Shortlisting: September 30, 2021Submission of Business Models and Business Plan: October 30, 2021Final Pitch and Selection of Winners: November 05, 2021Incubation Start: November 08, 2021

Application SubmissionAll applications must be submitted to the Centre for Business Development not later than September 15, 2021, as indicated in the calendar through the online platform provided below. http://bit.ly/rwesckapplicationform

You may contact us for further information at the Centre for Business Development (CBD) at the KNUST Commercial Area.Email address: cbd@knust.edu.gh Mobile: 0247142782