The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is requesting proposals for 2021 Telecommunications-based Research from academics in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The research is expected to cover areas that include 5G deployment; Innovative Clean Energy Technology; Monitoring and Localisation of Drones; and Internet of Things (IoT) Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) Technology. The proposed research will also cover Advanced Method of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience Management and Test Mechanism.
In the Request for Proposal (RFP) signed by the executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Commission, the NCC stated: “The Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulator of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, supports amongst other things, telecommunications-based research innovations from tertiary institutions in the country that are practical, locally realisable and have clear potential of contributing to the development of the telecommunications industry.
Pursuant of this objective, the Commission invites proposals from academics in tertiary institutions that have feasible research ideas capable of replacing or enhancing foreign technologies in the telecommunications ecosystem in Nigeria. it is envisaged that the initiative will help build capacity in the tertiary institutions and promote Nigeria’s contribution to the pool of technologies in use in the communications industry.”
According to the call for applications from the NCC, interested researchers are required to submit their proposals which must come from teaching academics in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The proposal must also have a two-page executive summary, one of which will be on the research proposal and must include relevance of the research to the telecommunications industry, proposed solution to identified challenges, novelty of concept and research output.
The Commission however noted that any academic institution with an ongoing research project with the Commission should not apply.
One of the criteria for evaluation indicates that each project, including the prototype development, must be concluded within two years. Also, while noting that the project cost should not exceed N14 million NCC specifies that allowance for researchers should not exceed20% of the cost of carrying out the research work.
While directing interested researchers to the commission’s website, www.ncc.gov.ng/Research-Grant-2021 for a comprehensive guide to application, the Commission announced that submission of an electronic copy saved in a USB in PDF format, plus two hard copies of the research proposals must get to the Commission on or before August 18, 2021.
