Spotlight · Engineering Innovation
Kenyan Innovator Elly Savatia Wins 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation
Published November 07, 2026
Terp 360, an AI-powered sign language translation app, earns top honors at Africa’s premier engineering competition
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to engineering innovation. In 2025, Kenyan innovator Elly Savatia was named the winner for her AI-powered application Terp 360, which translates speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars.
About the Africa Prize
The Africa Prize awards commercialisation support and prize money to African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to local challenges. Since its launch, it has supported 181 businesses, with 71% of alumni now generating revenue and having raised $34 million in grants and equity.
Terp 360: Bridging Communication Gaps
Terp 360 is an AI-powered application that translates spoken language into sign language through lifelike 3D avatars, enhancing communication accessibility for the deaf community. This innovation exemplifies how engineering can improve quality of life and economic development across Africa.
The 2025 Africa Prize Final
The live final of the Africa Prize programme, partly funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, was held in Dakar, Senegal. Here, Elly Savatia and other finalists pitched their innovations to a panel of expert judges, with Savatia ultimately securing the £50,000 grand prize.
Sources
This is an independent IQMIA editorial feature, not an endorsement or statement by the people mentioned.