The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is taken a bold initiative aimed at the development of home-grown innovative solutions and local content development in the Telecommunications Sector while fostering economic growth and social advancement in Nigeria.
The Commission believes that the development of such home-grown innovative solutions and local content development, can be achieved with the “NCC Talent Hunt Research Through Hackathon,” leveraging on Emerging Digital Technologies to facilitate achievement of the objective.
Towards this end, Commission, in giving expression to its Strategic Vision Plan 2023-2025, is encouraging the development of new technologies and indigenous content through cutting-edge research to stimulate sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria.
Accordingly, the Commission has invited Tech Hubs, and Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs) in Nigeria to enroll their start-ups and their solutions in the 3rd edition of the NCC Talent Hunt Research through Hackathon.
The Talent hunt Research focuses on three thematic areas: Blockchain-enabled Data Protection Solutions for Enhancing Regulatory Compliance; Assistive Technology Solutions for the Elderly and People with Disabilities and; Technology Solutions for Renewable Energy in Rural Areas.
According to the announcement on the Commission’s website, “the competition enables the translation of novel ideas into the development of hardware/software solutions that address industry and social challenges.”
“The best three solutions, one from each of the three areas listed above will receive grants of N10million each for the development of the solutions,” it added.
On eligibility for the competition, the Commission explained that the criteria for participation in the competition include the following:
- The Enterprise MUST provide certificate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
- The Enterprise must not have previously received support from the Commission.
- The project should have clear relevance to one of the three thematic areas above.
- Provide clear problem statement, proposed solution and the roadmap to deployment.
- Proof of concept (which may also include technical feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm, existing models or case studies, etc).
- Novelty of solution (including a declarative statement on ownership of intellectual property).
- Solution including prototype development shall be concluded within 6 months of receipt of the Grant (including Statement of Application of Funds/Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME).
- Detailed Commercialization plan of the prototype.
It said the Entry submission must be in the following format: Ideation i.e. what is the idea?; How does it work?; Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and solution functionality; Current Sweat Equity Investment; Product-Market fit status; Verifiable Go-to-Market status; Growth Feasibility Assurances; Maturity Model and Timeliness and; Exist time: Disaster Recovery – where applicable
While explaining that there was no financial cost to participants in the competition, the NCC enjoined the public to note that “full control and ownership of the intellectual property of the developed solution remain within the Commission.”
It insisted that all entries must be made by a tech Hub/Innovation-Driven enterprise that would register and submit on behalf of the entry the following documents:
- Evidence of relationship with the Start-up/solution being entered.
- 4-page Executive summary of the project concept
- 3-5 minutes video of the pilot project
- Name, age, contact details, passport photos and profile of all team members.
- Website (if available/E-mail address
Interested and qualified enterprises should submit the documents above in a zip folder to:
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