The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kingsley Udeh, on Thursday, stated the Federal Government is advancing plans to strengthen research financing to speed up commercialisation and enterprise improvement.
The minister made the announcement in Abuja, on the Nigeria-EU Science and Innovation Day, the place policymakers, researchers, innovators, and private-sector actors convened to deepen cooperation and strengthen institutional partnerships.
Delivering the keynote deal with, Udeh informed delegates that precedence areas for collaboration embody agricultural productiveness and meals safety, digital transformation, and rising applied sciences, including that, “implementation will be coordinated through an inter-ministerial framework chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.”
He additional famous, “The Federal Government is advancing plans to strengthen research financing mechanisms and expand international research partnerships in order to accelerate commercialisation and support enterprise development.”
The Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, emphasised co-creation because the defining precept of EU–Nigeria collaboration in science and innovation, describing the partnership as one grounded in joint possession reasonably than a easy switch of information.
Mignot stated, “Science and innovation are central to inclusive and sustainable development, particularly in addressing challenges such as food security, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.”
He famous that the European Union’s engagement in Nigeria is structured to reinforce nationwide innovation techniques, strengthen institutional capability, and assist research-to-market pathways.
He highlighted ongoing collaboration beneath the EU’s Global Gateway technique, together with assist for digital transformation initiatives, innovation ecosystem improvement, and artistic business financing frameworks.
He additionally referenced cooperation aligned with nationwide priorities to develop digital infrastructure and strengthen enabling environments for enterprise and innovation.
The European Commission’s Director for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation, Nienke Buisman, famous that Nigeria stays one of many main African contributors in Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
She emphasised, “Nigerian universities, start-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises are partnering with European counterparts across strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence applications, sustainable agriculture, fintech innovation, and climate adaptation initiatives under the AU–EU Innovation Agenda.”
Buisman described the continuing discussions between Nigeria and the European Union as a chance to consolidate current collaboration inside a coherent and forward-looking framework, encouraging stakeholders to strengthen institutional linkages and scale joint research efforts.
EU-Nigeria cooperation in research and innovation has expanded steadily lately. Under Horizon Europe, 55 tasks involving Nigerian entities have acquired roughly €20 million in funding throughout sectors corresponding to well being, agriculture, meals techniques, and the setting.
Nigeria additionally participates in 12 tasks beneath the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, attracting round €75 million in complete funding, with 15 Nigerian organisations presently concerned in these initiatives.