The b54 Computer Science Prize rewards outstanding research in computing and information technology. 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.
This prize is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students whose thesis or research paper presents original work in computer science. 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.
Strong submissions combine theoretical grounding with practical relevance. 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.
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.
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.