The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has launched the Nigerian Content Research, Innovation and Technology Challenge 2025/2026, inviting innovators, research institutions, academia, oil and gas service providers, and the general public to submit technology-driven solutions aimed at addressing critical industry challenges.

The initiative, which began in December 2025, is designed to identify, nurture, and commercialise homegrown innovations across the oil and gas sector and its linkage industries. Successful applicants will gain admission into the NCDMB Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIIC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for mentorship and further development.

Focus Areas and Submission Guidelines

Proposals, limited to 1,500 words, must align with the Board’s approved thematic areas and industry priorities. These include:

  • Geological and Geophysical Studies: Exploration, big data, and real-time logging data processing.
  • Local Materials Substitution: Sustainable materials for environmental remediation, cryogenic technology for LNG refining, and ultra-high temperature cementing.
  • Technology Development: Digitalisation, Internet of Things (IoT) applications for exploration and production, and condensate refining.
  • Health, Safety and Environment: Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), produced water management, depollution technologies, and hydrogen production.
  • Engineering Studies: Enhanced oil recovery, refinery efficiency, laboratory analytical equipment, drilling technology, and instrumentation and control systems.
  • Renewable Energy: Solar and wind technologies, as well as energy storage solutions including batteries, hydrogen, and thermal storage.

Competition Structure and Rewards

Entries must be submitted within one month of the challenge’s publication. From the submissions, 30 proposals will be shortlisted for mentorship, narrowed to 10 in the second stage, and five finalists will advance to the final pitch.

The top five winners will receive cash prizes, mentorship, and media exposure, while the top 10 participants will be onboarded into the TIIC for additional support toward commercialisation.

Through this initiative, the NCDMB aims to strengthen domestic technological capacity, promote local content, and accelerate the development of innovative solutions that address pressing needs in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.