2026 research awards
Computer Science Prize
The b54 Computer Science Prize rewards outstanding research in computing and information technology.
- Algorithms
- Machine learning
- Systems design
- Software engineering
$1,500Undergraduate
$2,500Postgraduate
Your submission
Submission guidelines.
Submit original thesis or research paper in PDF format
Maximum 50 pages including references and appendices
Must include abstract, methodology, and results sections
Work must be completed within the last 2 academic years
Co-authored work is accepted; applicant must be the primary contributor
All submissions must be in English
Who should apply
This prize is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students whose thesis or research paper presents original work in computer science.
Read more: Who should apply
You might be developing new algorithms, training and evaluating machine learning models, designing distributed systems, advancing cybersecurity methods, or contributing to computational theory. If your research demonstrates technical rigor and makes a meaningful contribution to the field, we want to see it.
What stands out
Strong submissions combine theoretical grounding with practical relevance.
Read more: What stands out
Judges look for clear problem formulation, well-justified design choices, and thorough evaluation — whether through formal proofs, benchmarking, or user studies. Code quality, reproducibility, and the clarity of technical writing are all important. Research that addresses problems with particular relevance to the African context, or that demonstrates deployment potential, receives special consideration.
About the prize
This prize covers the full spectrum of the discipline — from algorithms, data structures, and computational theory to artificial intelligence, machine learning, systems design, and software engineering.
We welcome research that pushes the boundaries of what computers can do, whether through new theoretical results, novel algorithms, innovative system architectures, or practical applications of computational methods to real-world problems. Work that bridges computer science with other disciplines, such as computational biology, natural language processing, or computer vision, is equally encouraged.
The African tech ecosystem is one of the fastest-growing in the world, and this prize recognizes the foundational research that underpins that growth. We want to celebrate students whose work demonstrates both intellectual depth and the potential for real-world deployment.
The published criteria
Judging criteria.
Technical depth and originality of the computational contribution
Rigor of evaluation methodology — benchmarks, proofs, or empirical studies
Clarity of problem formulation and justification of design decisions
Reproducibility, code quality, and potential for real-world deployment
Quality of technical writing and engagement with related work
Review & recognition
The 2026 prize cycle.
1 December 2026
Submissions close
December – January
Expert review
By February 2027
Shortlist notified
March 2027
Winners announced
Review process
Submissions close December 1, 2026. Expert panels review all entries during December and January. Shortlisted candidates are notified by February 2027. Winners are announced in March 2027 at a ceremony.
- Send your original thesis or research before the deadline.
- Independent panels assess entries against each field’s published criteria.
- Shortlisted candidates are contacted for verification.
- Winners are announced at a ceremony after verification.
Every submission receives written feedback from the panel.
Award details
Winners receive the prize amount ($1,500 undergraduate / $2,500 postgraduate), an official b54 certificate, a featured profile on the b54 website, and an invitation to present their work. Winners are also connected with mentors in their field.
Applying is free. Results remain provisional until verification is complete. You keep ownership of your research.
How the award reaches you- an official b54 certificate
- a featured profile on the b54 website
- an invitation to present their work
- Winners are also connected with mentors in their field.
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