Outstanding Innovations Make Jury's Decision a Herculean Task

After a full day of rigorous evaluation, the grand jury of the 2026 Digital Innovation Week has completed the difficult task of ranking the 20 shortlisted candidates competing for the Special Prize of the President of the Republic. The official results will be proclaimed on July 31, 2026, by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

Held under the theme "Protecting Cyberspace from the Misuse of Artificial Intelligence and Promoting Digital Patriotism," the final pitch was the last stage of the competition. It aimed to assess not only the originality of each innovation but also its technical quality, market potential and contribution to Cameroon’s digital transformation.

Comprising 11 experts from different professional backgrounds, the grand jury examined every project, asking challenging questions to better understand the solutions presented. Throughout the exercise, the experts expressed admiration for the creativity of the participants while offering constructive observations where necessary. Despite the increase in the number of finalists from 15 to 20, the process was completed in a well-organised manner, reflecting significant improvements in planning and time management.

Among the jury members was Dr. Hassan Rengou Mfouakie, Founder of the World Youth Summit MBC, researcher in innovation and digital transformation and a member of the grand jury. He brought his expertise to the evaluation of the finalists.

Dr. Rengou said, "I was fascinated by the level of understanding and practical knowledge demonstrated by these young innovators."

Reflecting on the organisation of the exercise, he added, "We started at 9 a.m. and completed our work around 8 p.m., unlike last year when deliberations stretched until about midnight. It shows remarkable improvement in organisation and time management."

While praising the innovations, he also reminded participants that more work lies ahead. "Most of them still have a lot to do in understanding their ecosystem and product marketing, but they have demonstrated enormous potential," he noted.

Dr. Rengou equally commended the Ministry's efforts, saying, "I thank the Minister for listening to the concerns of young innovators by putting in place initiatives such as the Cameroon Digital Innovation Centre and the Digital Innovation Week."

Jules Claude Mbong Etoundi, Chief of Service for Digital Technology at CRTV National Station and jury member representing the media, remarked, "I was impressed by the extent to which these young startups dare. One team even presented a missile that can be sent to space. It was truly unprecedented."

Highlighting the diversity of projects, he observed, "We also saw innovations designed to improve agriculture in rural areas, strengthen fact-checking and fight the misuse of artificial intelligence."

Speaking about the role of the jury beyond evaluation, he explained, "We advised participants on their data sources, pitching techniques and market strategy because every good idea should eventually grow into a profitable enterprise capable of creating jobs."

Although reaching a final classification demanded long hours of debate, the jury successfully established a ranking based strictly on merit. The identity of the classification remains confidential until the official proclamation on July 31, 2026, when the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications will unveil the results during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Digital Innovation Week.