Bone injury treatment wins top Innovation Prize for Africa

27th May 2014
Bone injury treatment wins top Innovation Prize for Africa
South African winners of the Innovation Prize for Africa, Nicolaas Duneas and Nuno Pires (holding cheque) receive their award

Abuja, Nigeria,  May 27 2014 –The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) has named Dr Nicolaas Duneas and Nuno Pires, from South Africa, as the winners of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) 2014. 
Dr Duneas and Mr Pires will receive US $ 100,000 for the Altis Osteogenic Bone Matrix (Altis OBM TM), the first injectable porcine derived Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) medical device in the world - an innovative product for the treatment of bone injuries and voids through the use of a regenerative biological implant.
 Duneas and Nuno Pires  were selected from about 700 applications from 42 countries.
The IPA 2014 also recognized two runners up for their contributions to African innovation.  In the business potential category, Logou Minsob (Togo) received $25,000 for his Foufou Mix, a food processor designed to replace the mortar and pestles used to prepare Foufou, a popular dish in West Africa. In the social impact category, Melesse Temesgen (Ethiopia) received $ 25 000 for developing the Aybar Broad Bed &  Furrow Maker (BBM), a low-cost farming device that is used to easily drain excess water from waterlogged fields.
“This year’s Innovation Prize for Africa winners showcase that Africans can find solutions to African challenges,” said Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, founder of the African Innovation Foundation and the IPA.  “We encourage partners from both the public and the private sectors to coherently work together to support African innovation.”   www.innovationprizeforafrica.org.   
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