The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has opened applications for participation in the second edition of its National Research Fair and Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 24 to 27, 2026.
The four-day event, tagged “Research to Market: Driving Innovation, Enterprise and National Prosperity,” is designed to connect researchers and innovators with investors, industries, manufacturers, technology transfer professionals and other potential commercial partners.
According to a notice signed by TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, the 2026 edition is intended to move beyond the conventional exhibition of research projects by creating opportunities for the commercialisation of Nigerian research, inventions and technologies.
The fund said the fair would bring together researchers, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, technical colleges, research institutes, innovation hubs, start-ups, manufacturers, corporate organisations, investors, government agencies and development partners.
It said the event would provide a platform for research outputs and prototypes to be transformed into products, licences, companies and employment opportunities.
Among the opportunities available to participants are exhibition stands, live technology demonstrations, start-up showcases, investor pitch sessions, research poster presentations and business-to-business matchmaking.
Participants will also have access to investor and buyer meetings, one-on-one deal rooms, sponsorship opportunities, government partnerships, media exposure and an Innovation Challenge and Commercialisation Clinic.
TETFund said the fair would focus on a wide range of sectors, including agriculture and food systems, health and biotechnology, education and EdTech, artificial intelligence and robotics, manufacturing, mining, energy and climate, water, transportation, construction, the digital economy, FinTech, GovTech, creative industries, cybersecurity, marine and blue economy, tourism and assistive technologies.
Researchers and research teams from tertiary institutions and research institutes are among those eligible to participate.
Other eligible applicants include innovation and technology hubs, incubators, accelerators, start-ups, spin-offs, small and medium-sized enterprises, manufacturers, corporate research and development teams, professional associations, government agencies and development organisations.
Independent and community-based inventors, student and young innovators, diaspora innovators and creative industry practitioners are also eligible to apply.
TETFund said applicants would be required to provide accurate information about their technologies and intellectual property and demonstrate their readiness to participate throughout their assigned exhibition or matchmaking sessions.
It warned that misrepresentation of a technology’s readiness, intellectual property status or institutional affiliation could lead to disqualification.
Interested applicants are required to complete the Universal Screening Questionnaire accompanying the notice or its online equivalent and submit the completed questionnaire together with supporting documents through the designated research fair application platform.
The submission portal is scheduled to open on September 14 and close on October 2, 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will subsequently be contacted through email or telephone and provided with further information on exhibition, matchmaking and symposium arrangements.
The second TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition will take place at the Abuja Trade and Convention Centre, Airport Road, Abuja, from November 24 to 27, 2026.
TETFund said the ultimate measure of the fair’s success would be the research and innovation deals initiated, licences negotiated, investment secured and partnerships established between Nigerian innovators and potential commercial partners.
