Chaired by H.E Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III alongside the Minister MOUNOUNA Foutsou of Youth and Civic Education, the 2nd call for project proposals of the Prototyping Support Fund and the award ceremony of the 2nd batch of laureates for this fund took place on the 10th of March 2022 at the esplanade of the Yaoundé Municipal Circle hall.
The objective of this 2nd call for project proposals of the Proto-fund is to identify the innovative project holders or innovative Cameroonian enterprises that have the potential to become the industry leaders and Cameroonian champions of tomorrow. Above all, this also entails supporting them, helping them grow and providing them with assistance. It should be noted that this is done through a rapid prototyping approach of productive and promising innovations that will contribute to the achievement of the objectives inscribed in the National Development Strategy (NDS-30) and the concentration of the Cameroonian industrial fabric.
The other phase of this ceremony was the award of prices to 20 laureates out of 50 pre selected candidates of the 2nd batch of the proto-fund. In a bid to assist the laureates in developing their prototypes, the 20 candidates who emerged victorious were handed checks worth fifty million (50.000.000) francs CFA to help them develop their prototypes as well as market their products. Worthy to note that Mr. BELLA ODEM Gervais Martial emerged the 1st runner up thanks to his project on the local production of pharmaceutical alcohol made from fruits.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister MOUNOUNA Foutsou extended his regards to all partners and congratulated the laureates for a job well done. While recalling the three axes of the Three-year Special-Youth plan which are the development of information systems for the mobilisation of youths, the social inclusion of youths and lastly, the development of support structures for youths. He went further to remind them that they are the future of leaders of tomorrow and artisans of Cameroon’s development. Addressing the youths and laureates especially, Minister Achille BASSILEKIN III stated that through their innovations, they can be called the “solution providers” of Cameroon. As such, he declared that the optimism, dynamism, patriotism and courage which they have portrayed so far should continue to be reflected in their innovations given that the Cameroonian SME sector is greatly in need of these innovations which to the Minister is very timely.
It is worthy to note that the selection of the 50 candidates who took part in this contest was carried out by a jury made up of two teams: the Pre-selected Jury and the Grand jury which all consisted of members from all support and partners structures. 7 Special prices amongst which were the special price from the President of the Republic of Cameroon H.E Paul BIYA, special price for digital innovation, special price for social innovation, best talent, best feminine innovation and encouragement price from the Agency for SMEs were also handed to some distinguished laureates.