As part of its continuous efforts to develop the industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is requesting proposals for telecoms-based research from academics in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
According to a public notice just issued by the regulator, the Commission, 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 to 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,” the NCC stated in the notice.
Recall that last year, the Commission had awarded a total of N54.7 million to the five (5) tertiary institutions that were adjudged to have best responded to the request for proposals published in national dailies and on the Commission’s website and Social Media handles.
Areas of the research for this year, the regulator said, include 5G deployment; Innovative clean energy technology; Advanced method of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience Management and Test Mechanism; loT low power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology; and Monitoring and localisation of drones.
According to the Commission, interested researchers are required to submit their proposals which must: Come from teaching Academics in Nigeria's tertiary institutions; and Have a two-page executive summary. “One page will be on the research proposal which should include the relevance of the research to the telecommunications industry, proposed solution to identified challenges, the novelty of concept and research output (prototype) and the second page would be on the project timeline, deliverables, and detailed cost schedule,” NCC said.
It added that the criteria for the evaluation of the research submissions include that the area must fall within the specified areas of research; Novelty of research proposal (comprehensive literature review to bring out the novelty of the research); Clear statement and explanation of the problem; Proposed solution to the problem; Proposed approach and methodology; Each project including prototype development must be concluded within 2 years; and that the project cost should not exceed a maximum of N14 million.
The Commission advised academic Institutions with an ongoing research project with the NCC not to apply.
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