Cameroon’s Arthur Zang, a young visionary entrepreneur, has won his first major international award. The 26-year-old was among five young visionaries from Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East announced on Tuesday at London’s leading scientific institution, the Royal Society, as winners of the 2014 Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

The awards recognize enterprising men and women who are using their talents and initiative to change the world in five broad areas: science and health, applied technology, the environment, exploration and discovery, and cultural heritage.

This year’s Young Laureates – aged 30 and under – impressed by both their leadership qualities and ability to harness technology in an original way to improve the well-being of the community and the environment, as well as advance scientific knowledge.

Arthur Zang won the award for inventing what is believed to be Africa’s first medical tablet (or Cardiopad), which will allow health-care practitioners in rural areas to send the results of cardiac tests to heart specialists via a mobile-phone connection.

Another African, Rwanda’s Olivier Nsengimana, 30, won the award for promoting breeding programmes and the release of Rwanda’s captive, endangered grey crowned-cranes. The iconic bird, a symbol of wealth and longevity in Rwanda, is a victim of its own beauty, and is often kept as a pet. Other laureates included Neeti Kailas, 29, from India, Francesco Sauro, 29, from Italy, and Hosam Zowawi, 29, from Saudi Arabia.

“After a record number of young applicants this year, we are proud to announce the winners and to support these individuals in developing their inspiring work,” Head of Philanthropy at Rolex Rebecca Irvin said in a news release sent to the Cameroon Journal.

“The five Young Laureates and their projects clearly demonstrate a strong spirit of enterprise and leadership. This year’s Jury was particularly impressed with the practical approach each is taking to solve real-world problems. They are certainly role models whose stories Rolex is pleased to bring to the world,” she added.

The five Young Laureates were chosen by an international Jury of eight eminent experts who reviewed a shortlist from among 1,800 applicants from all over the world. The Laureates will each receive 50,000 Swiss francs to advance their projects.

The biennial Rolex Awards for Enterprise were initiated in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster chronometer, the world’s first waterproof watch and a symbol of the innovation that the Awards programme supports