NASENI Approves $21.7m Delta-2 Project with 11 Companies for Technology Transfer
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has formally approved the commencement of the Delta-2 Project, a collaborative effort valued at $21.7 million involving 11 companies as part of the Nigerian-Czech bilateral cooperation. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, announced this significant development in Abuja on Monday, highlighting the substantial importance of the project.
Launched in 2020, the Delta-2 Project serves as a technology transfer programme between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, signifying a major advancement in the realms of research, development, and innovation, particularly in the fields of Agriculture, Mining, and General Manufacturing for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises.
The finance for the selected projects comprises a contribution of $11.7 million from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, in conjunction with NASENI’s contribution of $10 million. The project’s implementation is scheduled to commence in January 2024, with a funding period ranging from 12 to 36 months.
Mohammed Dahiru, the chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC), is anticipated to furnish comprehensive details regarding the project beneficiaries and the funding arrangements. Forecasts predict that the outcomes of the projects will yield direct and immediate positive impacts on Nigerian farmers, miners, and MSME operators.
The technologies resulting from these collaborative efforts are slated to be transferred and domesticated in Nigeria through NASENI and other research institutions and private companies as part of the overarching plan. Today marks the award ceremony and the signing of the agreement for the implementation of the eleven (11) Delta 2 projects that have excelled after undergoing rigorous evaluation.
The distribution of the beneficiaries of the awards encompasses the entire country, ensuring representation from all regions. The anticipated outcomes of the projects are expected to encompass patents, pilot plants, proven technologies, software, certified methodologies, processes, specialized maps, and databases, among other essential elements.
This collaborative endeavour represents a momentous stride towards technological advancement in Nigeria, and the successful execution of the Delta-2 Project is undeniably poised to usher in economic growth and innovation in the country. The potential impact of this initiative on various sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly in the development of small and medium-scale enterprises, is indeed substantial.
As we eagerly await the initiation of the implementation process in 2024, the prospects of this collaboration between NASENI and the Czech Republic are undeniably promising, and we eagerly anticipate the positive imprint it will leave on research, development, and innovation in Nigeria.
