4 research teams win $250,000 grant

THE Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has awarded a $250,000 grant to four innovative research teams in Nigeria.

This follows the successful implementation of the Research for Impact Initiative (R41) under the auspices of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) where four teams were shortlisted to advance their developed ideas through a collaborative research grant established under SGCs with Innov8 Technology Hub as the technical partner.

The grant originates from the SGCI, a multi-funder initiative aimed at strengthening the capacities of 17 Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at the project inauguration and initial boot camp of SGCI funding in Abuja, the director of research and development, Dr Saliba Girei Bakare, TETFund said that, though Nigeria joined the SGCI in 2020, five years after the programme’s inception, the impact of this collaboration is poised to be transformative.

TETFund is one of 17 members of the Sub-Saharan Africa Science Funding Councils Initiative (SGCI) which seeks to strengthen Science Financing Councils in supporting research and evidence-based policies that contribute to the socioeconomic development of countries.

According to Bakare, the $250,000 grant will support four Nigerian research teams, each working on projects with the potential to drive significant change.

Among these initiatives are advancements in the processing of garri, a staple food, and pioneering efforts in renewable energy, amongst others.

He said the funding aims to bridge the gap between research and practical application, fostering innovations that can be commercialised.

“The essence is to help them transform their research findings into commercialisable goods and services in this country,” explained Dr Bakare.

He further explained that a critical component of the grant is focused on helping research teams develop their innovations into market-ready prototypes.

This, he said, involves not only technical development but also pitching these products to industries, ensuring that the research translates into tangible economic benefits.

“Four teams are going to use this money to develop their research into prototypes and pitch them with industries so that there will be a take-off of the product coming out from the research,” he noted.

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