Young Rwandan innovators have emerged among the selected entrepreneurs for the 2016 Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) and Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA) respectively.

They include Clarisse Uwineza who will be travelling to compete for seed capital at the global entrepreneurship summit in Silicon Valley, USA in June and Alice Igiraneza, a University of Rwanda student who qualified for the global student entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA) taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, today.

The Gist initiative is part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the U.S.

Department of State global innovation through science and technology Idea (Tech-I) Competition.

It is an annual global pitch competition seeking to identify and select, train, and encourage exciting young scientists, engineers, and great minds to build businesses around the world.

And this year’s competition has attracted innovators from more than135 countries including emerging economies.

"I am so happy for having qualified for the finals, and this time round, I’m going to work hard so that I showcase Rwanda on the international scene. It’s a big competition but everything is possible,” said Uwineza

Her bio-organic waste fertilizer, project seeks to convert agricultural and bio-organic waste into fortified organic fertilizer and bio-energy.

Meanwhile, Igiraneza could win up to $20,000 if she emerges as the overall winner.

"I’m looking forward to sharing experience, skills and knowledge with other innovators during these competitions in Bangkok,” she said.

Igiraneza‘s company specialises in mushroom farming and value addition and packaging for exports.

The global student entrepreneurship awards aims at inspiring students across the globe to embrace innovation for economic sustainability.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw