The United Kingdom is providing support for some universities in Nigeria and Africa to enable them commercialise their research works and get global attention.

The support, which comes through the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa Fund (RISA), operates across six countries — Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.

In Nigeria, the fund has engaged 14 universities through Project I2M (Innovation to Market) to strengthen inter-institutional collaboration, promote knowledge sharing in technology transfer and commercialisation, and accelerate the translation of research outputs into market-ready innovations.

Universities in the scheme include eight Federal Universities: (University of Lagos; Bayero University, Kano; University of Ibadan; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Benin; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Jos; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture); four state universities (Akwa Ibom State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Imo State University; Olabisi Onabanjo University) and two private universities (Lead City University; Maranatha University, Lagos).

For emphasis, through I2M, selected universities and their researchers receive a range of targeted support. This includes training and capacity building workshops, funding for prototyping, intellectual property protection and patent filing support, access to incubation facilities, co-working spaces and maker labs, mentorship, and connections to industry partners, investors, and ecosystem collaborators.

Project I2M is implemented through the University of Lagos’s Innovation and Technology Management Office (UNILAG IPTTO), which coordinates the consortium of 14 partner universities across Nigeria.

According to the UK, partner universities were identified through a nationwide call inviting institutions to apply for consortium membership. Those selected were onboarded through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing them as official partners in the project.

Separately, researchers within these institutions were invited to submit proposals for commercialisation support. Eligible submissions were required to be at least at a proof-of-concept stage and were assessed on technical quality, real-world relevance, team capacity, and commercial viability, including scalability, market demand, and economic sustainability.

UK noted that Project I2M has concluded its funding period ahead of RISA’s close-out, though the institutional systems and partnerships established across the 14 universities remain in place.