PriMI 2026
An innovation prize to identify, showcase and support the best solutions. Winners are expected to enter an incubation pathway through the INE Technology Transfer Office.
Water Week 2026
Innovation challenges
PriMI and BloChallenge form a shared competition, prototyping and valorisation pathway to bring forward concrete solutions for water, sanitation, agriculture and resilience.
Challenge partners
An ecosystem mobilised for innovation
PriMI · BloChallenge
Two competitions, one shared calendar
PriMI showcases the best innovations and opens an incubation pathway through the INE Technology Transfer Office to turn winning projects into viable enterprises. BloChallenge adds the hackathon dynamic, rapid prototyping, digital technology and artificial intelligence to accelerate the delivery of concrete solutions.
BloChallenge 2026
An intensive hackathon to transform ideas into high-impact digital and technological prototypes for drinking water, sanitation and sustainable water resources management.
Digital, technological and entrepreneurial solutions for water
- Improve access to drinking water, water quality monitoring, sanitation and wastewater management.
- Propose tools for flood prevention, sustainable agricultural water use and water resources governance.
- Mobilise IoT, data, mobile applications, digital fabrication and artificial intelligence.
- Promote innovative entrepreneurship, social impact and deployment of high-potential solutions.
85 expected participants and multidisciplinary teams
The pathway mobilises INE-UAC students, web and mobile developer learners from Ecole229 Cotonou and Parakou, Africa Design School and external profiles. Ten multidisciplinary teams and five external teams are expected to strengthen inclusion, collaboration and open innovation.
85participants
10multidisciplinary teams
05external teams
Lead institutions
An innovation ecosystem around water and digital technology
BloLab
A digital innovation hub, BloLab supports skills development, prototyping and innovative entrepreneurship through its FabLabs, Ecole229, incubation programmes and BloBus.
UniPod Bénin
An innovation, experimentation and accelerated transformation space located on the Abomey-Calavi campus, with coworking, design lab, MakerSpace and Technology Transfer Office.
INE / UAC
The National Institute of Water brings scientific and technical expertise in water, sanitation, innovation, the Technology Transfer Office and LC2AI to support impact-driven solutions.
PriMI · BloChallenge
Challenge calendar
Both competitions follow the same operational calendar, with framing, prototyping, coaching, pitching, jury deliberation and award activities. Activities take place at UniPod Benin and then at the Palais des Congrès in parallel with Water Week sessions.
Download BloChallenge concept noteDay 1 - Monday, 19 October 2026
UNIPOD - Abomey-Calavi
Welcome and installation
Organising team
BloChallenge presentation
BLOLAB / UNIPOD
Design Thinking workshop
Africa Design School
Coffee break
Organising team
Presentation: water challenges in Benin - diagnosis and context
National Institute of Water / Water sector expert
Presentation: public policy for universal access to drinking water, technological innovation and sustainable water management
National Rural Drinking Water Supply Agency leadership
Official launch of BloChallenge 2026
Organising team
Hackathon
Coaches
Day 2 - Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Palais des Congrès - Cotonou
Participation in the Water Week 2026 opening ceremony
Organising team
Hackathon
Coaches
Production of the first version of the project sheet
Coaches
Hackathon
Coaches
Day 3 - Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Palais des Congrès - Cotonou
Hackathon
Coaches
Hackathon
Coaches
Hackathon
Coaches
Day 4 - Thursday, 22 October 2026
Palais des Congrès - Cotonou
Hackathon
Coaches
Hackathon
Coaches
Project pitches
Coaches
Jury deliberation, award ceremony and closing remarks
Coaches
Practical information
Venue change
From 20 October, Water Week activities linked to the challenges take place on the UAC campus.
Main venue
University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) Campus
Official opening
Amphi Idriss Déby Itno, UAC
Remaining activities
National Institute of Water (INE), UAC
On 20 October, the opening ceremony takes place at Amphi Idriss Déby Itno; subsequent activities take place at the National Institute of Water (INE), UAC.