Presidential Panel Selects 25 Firms For Nigeria/Czech $10.5m Research Projects

In their drive for technology transfer, 25 firms have been shortlisted for the over $10.5 million research projects by the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology Transfer/ Information Exchange between Nigeria and Czech Republic.

Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI to invest N2billion (about $5.7 million) in profitable manufacturing and commercialisation of successful research products.

NASENI will also serve as a partner with any willing company on such products.

The agency’s executive vice chairman, Prof Mohammad Sani Haruna, disclosed the cheering news during the announcement of Delta-2 results of the bids for the projects.

Haruna, who was represented by the agency’s coordinating director of planning and business development, Mrs Nonye Onyechi, said the firms were shortlisted by experts including those from the Nigeria Academy of Science, Nigeria Academy of Engineering and the private sector. He said the funding of the projects will last from 12 to 36 months.

Haruna said, “The sum of CZK 250 million (250 million Czech Koruna) equivalent to $10.5 million has been allocated as research fund by the government of Czech Republic, through the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) for this project.

“NASENI has approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to invest up to N 2 billion about $5.7 million in profitable manufacturing and commercialisation of successful research products as a partner with any willing company.

“These 25 selected companies shall be receiving their awards in January 2023 in line with the Delta-2 Work Plan. The funding for these projects is projected to last for between 12 to 36 months.

“The outputs of these projects are expected to be of proven technologies, yield patents, pilot plants, process technologies, mass production and commercialisation.”

The EVC explained in details the scope of the research projects and how it will have impact on the nation’s economy.

He added, “Projects to be funded under this programme are expected to have direct and immediate positive impact on the average Nigerian farmers, miners and Nigerian business community through development and growth of SMEs.

“The research products are expected to be commercialized by the Principal Applicant/Lead Organizations (where these are private companies) or the Participating Organization/ Private Sector Companies (in cases where the Principal Applicant is a University or a Research Institution).