……Proposal Open To Academics In Nigeria Tertiary Institutions
Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is inviting proposals from academics in tertiary institutions that have feasible research ideas, capable of replacing or enhancing foreign technologies in the country’s telecommunications industry.
The Commission said in a Request for Proposal released on Friday and signed by Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC that 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 Nigerian Communications Commission, the Regulator of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, supports amongst other things, telecommunications-based innovations and research from tertiary institutions in the country that are practical, locally realizable and have the clear potential of developing 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 in Nigeria,” the NCC said in the Request.
Areas of Research
The Commission listed the areas of Research to include: Innovative clean energy Technology; 5G deployment in Nigeria; IoT Low Power Wide Area Network (WAN) Technology; Advanced method of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience Management and test mechanism; and Monitoring and localisation of drones.
Requirements
Interested researchers are required to submit their proposals which must among other things, come from teaching Academics in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions; and have a one-page executive summary of the research proposal to include the relevance of the research to the telecommunications industry, deliverables, novelty of the concept, methodology, team experience, project timeline and detailed cost schedule.
Evaluation Criteria
The NCC noted that the criteria for the evaluation of the research submissions include the following: The area must fall within the specified areas of research; Adherence of proposal to stated requirements above; Novelty of the research proposal (comprehensive literature review to bring out clearly the novelty of the research); and Clear statement and explanation of the problem.
Criteria for the evaluation will also include a Proposed solution to the problem; Proposed approach and methodology; Each project including prototype development must be concluded within 2 years; and the project cost should not exceed a maximum of twelve million naira (N12, 000,000.00) only. (The Commission reserves the right to review this maximum amount).
Furthermore, any academic with a yet to be completed research project with the Commission should not apply; Total cost (including all costs) of the project must be clearly stated and broken down in details, for which there can be no variation; Proof of concept (feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm etc.); Clear relevance to the telecommunications industry; and Evidence of local realization up to prototype.
The criteria will also include Cost reasonableness (cost of actualizing the idea including hardware and software requirements but excluding purchase of vehicles, Furniture or Internet data, foreign trips and allowances); Schedule of project organization; and Coherent presentation/packaging of concept.
It will also include the integration of research with education (capacity building of students via the implementation of the project in the institution); Allowance for researchers should not exceed 20% of the cost of actually doing the research; and Evidence of competence of the team in executing the project (include past work and CVs of team members).
Submission of Proposal
The NCC noted in the Request for Proposal that submission of proposals will undergo preliminary assessment, stating that the proposals that are adjudged promising and capable of developing the Telecommunications industry will be further evaluated by another level of assessors.
“Sponsors/authors of research submissions may be invited for the defence of their proposals before a decision is taken on whether the Commission will fund their project(s) or not. Those with existing research grant are not qualified to apply for this,” the NCC said in the Request.
The Commission asked interested researchers to submit both SOFT and HARD copies and CDs of their research proposals on or before 8 September 2020 to the address below:
Email address: drd@ncc.gov.ng
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO
Attention:
Director, Research and Development,
Nigerian Communications Commission
Plot 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street,
Maitama, Abuja
Nigeria
The NCC warned that any proposal submitted after the deadline will be rejected automatically.