A bold new $2 million prize has been launched to supercharge Africa’s industrial future through artificial intelligence (AI) and smart manufacturing. The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing, unveiled at the 2025 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, is the latest innovation challenge co-founded by South African billionaire Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the Milken Institute.
This marks the fourth and most ambitious installment in the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Series—an initiative that leverages technology to tackle some of Africa’s most persistent structural challenges. This year, the spotlight is on transforming the continent’s manufacturing sector using advanced, AI-powered technologies.
With a $2 million equity-free prize pool, including a $1 million grand prize, the competition aims to reward groundbreaking entrepreneurs who develop AI solutions that localize production, strengthen supply chains, and generate high-quality industrial jobs in Africa. The competition is open globally, and applications are being accepted through July 31, 2025.
“We’re excited to see what bold entrepreneurs are doing for the African manufacturing sector—harnessing the power of AI and advanced technologies to improve supply chains across the continent,” said Dr. Emily Musil, Managing Director of Environmental and Social Innovation at the Milken Institute.
Bridging Africa’s Manufacturing Gap
Despite accounting for nearly 18% of the world’s population, Africa contributes less than 2% to global manufacturing output, leaving the continent heavily dependent on imports and vulnerable to global supply shocks.
The problem is especially acute in South Africa, where GDP grew by a mere 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025, with manufacturing flagged as the weakest performer. Shrinking inventories, broken value chains, and chronic underinvestment have eroded the country’s once-vibrant industrial base.
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Yet there is hope. Analysts and think tanks like the Institute for Security Studies project that manufacturing-led growth could become a more sustainable engine for job creation than even agriculture—given its broader impact on logistics, services, and agro-processing sectors.
What the Prize Will Fund
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing is not just about automating production lines. Organizers are calling for transformational solutions that:
- Use AI, smart-factory tools, and data analytics to improve productivity, reduce waste, and localize supply chains;
- Expand access to essential goods such as low-cost housing materials, food, and medical supplies;
- Create sustainable jobs while unlocking Africa’s export potential.
While open to innovators worldwide, the competition remains rooted in Africa’s needs. Previous Milken-Motsepe challenges have awarded over $6 million in equity-free support to more than 50 startups, many from the continent, across sectors like agritech, fintech, and renewable energy. These ventures have reached over 530,000 people and attracted follow-on investments.
This latest prize aims to add manufacturing innovation to that growing success story.
A Legacy of Innovation and Giving
The Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize series began in 2021 as a joint venture between the Motsepe Foundation—established by Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe—and the U.S.-based Milken Institute. The programme has consistently focused on high-impact areas like food systems, financial access, clean energy, and now industrial development.
Unlike many grant-based schemes, these prizes are equity-free, globally competitive, and structured to support both early-stage innovation and real-world implementation.
While billionaire philanthropy can sometimes attract skepticism, the Motsepe family’s longstanding commitment—including their 2013 pledge to donate at least half their wealth—has given the initiative legitimacy among both policymakers and development experts.
Looking Ahead
As Africa’s economic and industrial landscape evolves, the real test for this prize will be whether innovative AI technologies can catalyze lasting, systemic change in manufacturing across the continent.
To learn more or to apply, visit milkenmotsepeprize.org.
