The Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition 2026

The Presidential African Youth in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Competition 2026 is a continental initiative advancing Africa’s leadership in AI, robotics, and emerging technologies. Hosted by the Government of Egypt through the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the competition unites policy, industry, and innovation to empower African youth.

What it offers

• 12 dynamic competition categories, including AI in Mining, FinTech, Robotics Design, Healthcare, Education, Ethical AI, and Agriculture.
• A Presidential Award as the highest honour.
• Finalists receive global recognition at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union’s AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva (7–10 July 2026).
• Finalists must attend the Presidential Awards Ceremony (12–13 October 2026) or a Virtual Awards Ceremony in October 2026.

Who can apply

• Open to African youth aged 15–35.
• Applicants under 18 must provide written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
• Accepts individuals or teams.

How to apply

• Applications open on 10 February 2026 at 10:00 GMT.
• Submit AI or robotics projects by 30 June 2026 at 21:45 GMT.
• Projects must align with the competition theme and guidelines.
• Group entries must be submitted by the group leader, with the project paper indicating all team members.
• Respond to the submission acknowledgement email with your prototype or project paper.

Good to know

• Participants retain ownership of their projects.
• Organisers may use project details for promotional purposes.
• Judging is based on innovation, functionality, and impact; judges’ decisions are final.
• Finalists will be announced publicly on social media (X and LinkedIn) on 17 September 2026.
• Failure to prove originality or respond may result in disqualification or forfeiture of prizes.