From left to right: Dr. Kolawole Adisa Olonade, Univ. of Lagos, Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karlicek and Dr.-Ing. Wolfram Schmidt, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
Source: BAM, Corporate Communications
Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek honoured four scientists from Africa for their outstanding research achievements with the German-African Innovation Award on 2nd May in Berlin.
Dr. Kolawole Adisa Olonade of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, together with the German project partner, the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), was honoured for special scientific achievements.
On the occasion of the award ceremony, Federal Minister Karliczek said: "The German-African Innovation Award is a measure within the framework of our Africa Strategy which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has set up to support science, research and development in Africa. I am pleased that we are honouring such promising talents and projects today. The winners are boldly advancing their joint projects that provide innovative solutions and give people new perspectives in Africa."
The winning projects deal with improvements in different areas of life. Dr. Olonade’s work was developed in collaboration with Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Schmidt from BAM’s Technology of Construction Materials Division. His research is concerned with manioc peel, normally a waste product in Africa, to be processed into new, high-quality technology products including building materials. The prize is endowed with 150,000 euros.
Just a few days before presenting the prize to Dr. Olonade, Ms. Juliette Winkler, who completed her bachelor thesis at the same BAM division in 2017, was also distinguished. The Berlin Chamber of Construction granted her the 2017 Chamber of Construction Prize accompanied by a cash prize for her work on recycling rice husk ash in alternative binders.
Presentation of the 2017 Chamber of Construction Prize (from left to right): Chairman of the Education Committee Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Kraft, B.Ing. Juliette Winkler, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Beck, President of the Berlin Chamber of Construction, Dr.-Ing. Ralf Ruhnau, M.Sc. Patrick Sturm, BAM Source: Berlin Chamber of Construction /Christian VagtVagt
The BMBF German-African Innovation Award
The German-African Innovation Prize is awarded in the form of project funding for German-African cooperation projects. The aim is to strengthen local and regional innovation capacities in African partner countries. At the same time the foundations for the establishment of a sustainable innovation structure are to be created. In this way new and skilled jobs can be created in Africa.
2017 Chamber of Construction Prize
The Berlin Chamber of Construction Prize intends to illustrate the many-sidedness of civil engineering through recognising outstanding and exceptionally creative final theses of students studying civil engineering at universities and colleges in Berlin. In 2018, 18 prizes were awarded: 7 cash prizes and 11 recognition prizes.