Research Innovation Academy (RIA) (Cohort 2)
The Research Innovation Academy (RIA) is designed to prepare researchers to develop innovative ideas that extend beyond traditional academic inquiry and demonstrate potential for startup and commercialization pathways. The program emphasizes innovation as a central component of the research process, equipping participants with the tools to generate impactful ideas, translate them into applied outcomes, and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
Through a structured sequence of modules, participants will progress from idea generation, through translational research methods, to strategies for building research-driven ventures. The program supports researchers in advancing their careers by combining scholarly rigor with applied innovation and enterprise development.
Curriculum Structure of the Academy
Provides foundational methods for generating and structuring high-value research ideas.
Cycles of Creativity and Research Idea Engines – Frameworks for generating and refining research ideas with innovation potential.
Research Ideation and Breakthrough Brainstorming – Structured methods to expand idea space and identify high-value directions.
Visual Thinking for Innovation: Mind and Journey Mapping – Application of visual tools to organize research challenges and innovation pathways.
Research Question Canvas: Designing Questions with Market Potential – Techniques for developing precise, impactful, and translational research questions.
Research Model Canvas: From Hypothesis to Scalable Pathways – Construction of conceptual and methodological models aligned with startup growth.
Focuses on applying research within diverse contexts to generate practical outcomes.
Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Research-Driven Innovation – Methods for documenting and validating indigenous knowledge and applying it to research design.
Frugal Research and Innovation in Developing Contexts – Approaches to conducting impactful research in resource-constrained environments using frugal innovation.
Seven Steps to Translational Research and Innovation – Structured processes for advancing research from laboratory discovery to applied solutions.
Prepares participants to build teams, secure funding, and advance research outcomes toward commercialization.
Leading Research Teams with Emotional Intelligence – Development of leadership and collaboration skills for managing diverse research teams.
Building Innovation Cultures in Research Groups and Institutions – Strategies for cultivating environments that consistently foster innovation.
Securing Grants and Translational Research Funding – Identification of funding sources and preparation of competitive proposals.
From Research to Startup: Commercialization Strategies for Scientists – Frameworks for translating research results into ventures and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Who should register?
The Research Innovation Academy welcomes applications from researchers and academics across disciplines who wish to strengthen their ability to develop research ideas with translational and entrepreneurial potential:
STEM and Health Researchers – Including engineering, life sciences, medicine, and healthcare.
Social Sciences, Business, and Policy Scholars – Engaged in research on markets, organizations, society, and policy.
Arts, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Innovators – Integrating cultural insight and interdisciplinary approaches to research innovation.
Environmental, Education, and Technology Pioneers – Focusing on sustainability, education, ICT, and global development.
Captivating Takeaways
1. An inventive mindset.
2. Obtain a recognized certification.
3. Get a 1303-page document with diverse grant opportunities across nearly 60 countries. It covers subject areas, study levels, eligibility, and award values, totaling over 6,000 awards from 1,300+ bodies, valued at €534.990 – all free of charge.
Registration ongoing. Secure your seat now!
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₦50,000 ₦100,000
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Our Facilitators
OBICHI OBIAJUNWA
Dr. Obichi is an accomplished professional specializing in innovation leadership and global health. Currently serving as the national consultant for WIPO Nigeria’s IP Skills Acquisition, Learning, and Youth Entrepreneurship (IP-SALAYE) Program, he also leads the Research for Impact Initiative of Nigeria’s TETFund, where he has trained over 300 lecturers from universities and polytechnics nationwide on research commercialization.
A notable achievement includes founding and presiding over the Young Innovation Leaders (YIL) Fellowship, a pan-African platform nurturing young professionals to drive innovation in their fields. Through collaborations with diverse organizations and multilateral agencies, the YIL Fellowship empowers African youth to address global challenges innovatively.
With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Obichi mentors on global platforms. Notably, he spearheaded the innovation lab at UNFPA Nigeria in 2019, focusing on groundbreaking inventions in maternal and adolescent health.
As a speaker at the 2021 Milken Institute Global Conference, Dr. Obichi shares insights and conducts training sessions on innovation leadership in corporate, educational, and research settings. Through the Research Commercialization and Acceleration Program (RECAP), which he founded in 2022, he has provided intensive training at universities including Abubakar Tafewa Balewa University Bauchi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Rivers State University, among others.
Dr. Obichi, a Nigerian-trained physician, holds a Master of Public Health degree and an MBA in innovation and venture creation from Israel. He is a member of the AU-AI continental strategy development team and has co-founded AI-enabled healthcare startups, including Theragist, Daru Health, and EpochZero.
WADZANI DAUDA PALNAM
Dr. Wadzani Dauda Palnam, a researcher, academic mentor and life coach, currently serving as a faculty member at the Federal University, Gashua, Nigeria. His illustrious career is marked by over 100 scholarly publications reflecting his unwavering commitment to advancing scientific discourse.
Dr. Dauda holds esteemed positions, including an Editorial Board membership for Frontiers in Genome Editing, PLOS ONE, Taylor and Francis and Elsevier Journals.
Recognized for his scholarly eminence, Dr. Dauda has received accolades and grants from prestigious organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNESCO, Regeneron, American Phytopathological Society (APS), American Society of Microbiology (ASM), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) India, World Academy of Science (TWAS) Italy, and the M.J. Thirumalachar Merit Awards for Young Scientists.
Due to the significant nature of Dr. Dauda’s research findings and his noteworthy achievements, it is unsurprising that has been y offered postdoctoral positions in esteemed academic research laboratories at Louisiana State University (LSU), USA; Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; Masaryk University, Czech Republic; and Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, India.
His extensive research interests encompass diverse domains, including disease detection, mycotoxicology, agricultural microbiology, genome editing, and bioinformatics. Dr. Dauda’s intellectual versatility is further highlighted by his memberships in renowned societies such as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB), International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (IS-MPMI), Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM), American Phytopathological Society (APS), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA), and the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), UK. He holds the esteemed title of Fellow of the Society for Plant Research (FSPR). Dr Dauda is the Director of research and Development at the Academic and Grant Writing Enclave (AGE)
Dr. Dauda’s collaborative endeavors extend globally, fostering intellectual exchange with research groups in leading universities. In essence, he stands as an exemplar of scholarly excellence, illuminating the path of scientific inquiry and leaving an indelible mark on the annals of academia.
PROF. EUCHARIA OLUCHI NWAICHI
Director, Academic Planning, Research and Control at University of Port Harcourt
University of Port Harcourt
BARR. HAMMAN EZEKIEL PWANA, ESQ.
Chief Executive Officer of the Allied Legal Advocacy Project and Principal Attorney at H.E PWANA & CO LP in Maiduguri.