The Governments of Nigeria and Czech Republic have committed N9billion naira direct intervention fund to boost tech research and development.
The Chairman Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer Between Nigeria & Czech Republic, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, on Wednesday, disclosed that 25 companies who scaled evaluation process of the assessment committee criteria will receive funding from the Czech Republic-Nigeria Co-funding R&Ds project to commence in 2023.
Daily Post reported that the Czech Republic Government is supporting Nigeria technology based enterprises with 10 million Dollars and an additional match-up fund of same amount already approved by the Federal Government through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.
In his remarks, the Co-Chair of the Presidential Implementation Committee and also the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said the evaluation of the proposal was carried out diligently by members of the by experts in fields of research and business.
He said, “the process was well articulated, transparent and well-coordinated by experts in both fields of research and business and ably assisted by the PIC Secretariat.
“To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that private sector, academia and the public sector are collaborating to jointly submit research and development proposals with work-plans for commercialization and mass production from the onset backed by business plans.
“This cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic and the collaboration between NASENI and TA CR is teaching us methods of deploying applied research and the best option to forge marriage between private sector, academia and the government otherwise known as the Triple Helix.”
