A cooling innovation competition has been launched for photographers and start-ups ahead of the first-ever Festival of Cooling to be hosted by Rwanda in October. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s cooling centre mobilises $25m to improve vaccine supply The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) will host the inaugural Festival of Cooling in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 6 to 10, 2025, bringing together global leaders, innovators, farmers, health professionals, and policymakers to spotlight the transformative role of cooling in sustainable development. ALSO READ: New eco-friendly food cooling method unveiled The photography competition is free for all people, with the exception of those employed by the Clean Cooling Network. Participants must be residents of Rwanda and may submit up to three original photographs. Submissions will be accepted until September 25, 2025. By entering, participants agree to the competition rules and grant ACES the right to use their submissions, credited to the artist, for exhibitions, publications, media coverage, and online platforms. Photographs submitted must have been taken in 2024 or 2025 and should be provided in the highest quality JPEG format your device can produce. Light editing is permitted; however, adding or removing objects from the image is not allowed. AI-generated images will not be accepted. Submissions must not depict or promote violence, hate, nudity, or obscenity. They must not include public or political figures, contain political messages or propaganda, or feature content that could cause public offence or lead to legal disputes. Entrants are solely responsible for ensuring that their files are complete, readable, and correctly formatted at the time of submission. Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, composition, and their relevance to themes of cooling and the cold chain. Prizes will be awarded as follows: first prize – Rwf300,000; second prize – Rwf150,000; and third prize – Rwf120,000. Winners will be announced on October 9, 2025 at the ACES campus in Rubirizi. Contestants can read competition rules at cleancooling.org. Start-up pitch competition Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their start-up ideas at the Festival of Cooling, hosted at the ACES Rubirizi Campus. The event offers a platform to showcase innovative solutions in cooling and cold chain technologies. Women and youth are strongly encouraged to participate. The submission deadline is October 1, 2025. The focus of the pitch should be a cooling or cold-chain product, service, or business model applicable to low- and middle-income markets in the Global South. Entries should be from start-up businesses that are five years old or less. Entries should be at prototype to early revenue stage (TRL 3–6). Idea-stage entries are not eligible. Both entries that have and have not received prior funding are allowed. However, participants are required to disclose all grants, equity, debt, and investment received to date (type, source, date, amount). The solutions being pitched should be tailored for an African market and have the potential to scale to other African markets. Applicants may be based anywhere globally. Individuals must be 18 or older and authorised to apply on behalf of the start-up. “All participants are welcome, but women and youths are strongly encouraged to apply.” More information about the start-up competition is accessible at cleancooling.org. Cooling festival highlights Day 1 will target farmers and value chains with practical demonstrations of cold storage and transport solutions that reduce food loss and boost farmer incomes. ALSO READ: Proposed ‘green’ cooling centre seeks to cut post-harvest losses Day 2 targets the health sector, looking at innovations that safeguard vaccines, medicines, and blood supplies through robust cold chains. Day 3 looks at schools and education, engaging students and educators in the science of cooling and green career opportunities. Day 4 is set for innovation and entrepreneurship, with start-up pitch competitions and showcasing of climate-smart business models. Day 5 will bring together high-level stakeholders. Policy dialogues and investment forums linking cooling to climate action, resilience, and economic growth will be held. Why cooling matters Up to 40 percent of fruits and vegetables in Rwanda are lost post-harvest due to lack of cold storage. ALSO READ: Local farmers lose 30% in post-harvest processes Cold chains are the backbone of vaccine delivery, ensuring medicines remain safe and effective. By 2050, Africa’s cooling needs are expected to triple, making sustainable solutions urgent to avoid skyrocketing emissions. Clean cooling opens new opportunities for entrepreneurship, youth jobs, and regional trade while reducing hunger and strengthening health systems. In a fast-warming world, cooling is no longer a luxury but a frontline service essential to food security, healthcare, trade, and climate resilience. Across Africa, millions of tonnes of food are lost every year due to inadequate cold storage and transport, while health systems depend on reliable cold chains to ensure the effectiveness of vaccines, blood, and medicines. The Festival of Cooling is the first global event dedicated to sustainable cooling solutions, according to organisers. It will showcase innovations in renewable-powered refrigeration, cold storage, and digital monitoring systems, alongside case studies, competitions, and interactive exhibitions. Ahead of the cooling festival, Bernadette Arakwiye, the Minister of Environment, noted that by hosting it, Rwanda is creating a platform to reimagine cooling as a driver of resilience, opportunity, and sustainable development.
