Uganda’s Vivian Arinaitwe Finalist for Africa Prize in Neonatal Innovation

Uganda’s Vivian Arinaitwe has been named among the four finalists for the prestigious 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, thanks to her groundbreaking invention, NeoNest — a low-cost, portable neonatal warming and monitoring device designed to save the lives of premature and at-risk newborns during transfers to hospitals.

Announced by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Africa Prize recognises visionary innovators using engineering to address critical challenges across Africa. Vivian’s NeoNest stood out among 16 shortlisted innovations for its life-saving potential in a country where long travel times from rural health facilities often leave premature babies critically cold and unresponsive upon arrival at referral hospitals.

“Too many babies are dying simply because they cannot stay warm long enough to reach specialised care,” Vivian said after being named a finalist. “I wanted to create a solution that is affordable, portable, and effective — something health workers can trust even in the most rural settings.”

The NeoNest device functions as a makeshift incubator, generating and regulating heat through an electric circuit while continuously monitoring an infant’s vital signs. It features a smart temperature control system powered by a microcontroller, heat-conducting fluid for even warmth distribution, and LED indicators with alarms to warn caregivers of malfunctions.

“Green means all is well, orange signals caution, and red is danger,” explained Vivian. “Health workers don’t need complex training to use it — the device does most of the work for them.”

Her innovation could not be more timely. Uganda continues to face high neonatal mortality rates, with hypothermia being a major contributing factor. By keeping infants warm and stable during critical journeys, NeoNest aims to save thousands of lives every year.

The Africa Prize programme has already accelerated Vivian’s journey as an innovator. Since joining, she has secured partnerships with Ugandan health facilities to pilot the device and was also recognised at the African Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum Awards 2025, where she won in the Tech Entrepreneur category.

As a finalist, Vivian will undergo intensive business training and mentorship before pitching at the Africa Prize Live Final in Dakar, Senegal, on October 16, 2025. The winner will walk away with £50,000 to scale their innovation, while each runner-up will receive £10,000. An additional £5,000 ‘One to Watch’ award will also be given to a standout entrepreneur.

Rebecca Enonchong, Chair of the Africa Prize judging panel, said the finalists represent Africa’s engineering excellence. “This year’s innovators are tackling urgent challenges in healthcare, agriculture, energy, and accessibility. Their solutions have the potential to transform communities across the continent,” she noted.

Launched in 2014, the Africa Prize has supported over 165 entrepreneurs from 22 countries, helping alumni secure more than £25 million in grants and equity funding. More than 70% of past finalists now run revenue-generating businesses.

The other three finalists are Elly Savatia from Kenya, who created the AI-powered sign language app Terp 360; Frank Owusu from Ghana, the ‘aquapreneur’ behind the smart water-quality device Aquamet; and Carol Ofafa from Kenya, founder of E-Safiri, a battery-swapping service for electric vehicles.