The Directorate of Research and Development is pleased to launch the TETFUND funded Equipment Fabrication Call for Proposals, open exclusively to Academic Staff Members of The Federal Polytechnic Ede. This two-stage competition will fund innovative, high-impact research that advances our institution’s mission and benefits our community and nation.

About the Call

The Equipment Fabrication Intervention is one of TETFUND’s annual support schemes under the Physical Infrastructure Development portfolio. It is designed to help polytechnic-based Science & Technology staff take a working design or laboratory prototype and turn it into a fully functional piece of equipment. Rather than funding the initial research phase, this grant picks up where proof-of-concept leaves off—covering everything from raw materials and components, through skilled labour and assembly, to commissioning and testing.

Applicants must be full-time academic staff at accredited polytechnics. Proposals need to demonstrate a clear societal or industrial need, show how the fabricated equipment will enhance teaching or service delivery, and include detailed engineering drawings, a fully priced Bill of Quantities at current market rates, and a realistic fabrication schedule. Funds are released in tranches against agreed milestones, typically 30 percent at mobilization, 40 percent on sight of midway deliverables (such as subassemblies or test reports), and the balance on successful commissioning and acceptance tests.

By investing in turnkey equipment solutions, TETFUND aims to strengthen technical training facilities, foster local fabrication capacity, and ultimately reduce dependence on imported instruments and machines. Successful projects not only leave behind new or upgraded lab infrastructure but also build hands-on skills among students and technical staff—helping to bridge the gap between academic innovation and real-world application.

Eligibility

• Academic Staff Members of The Federal Polytechnic Ede only
• Applicants must register using their official institutional email address. 

Evaluation Criteria
Your proposal will be judged on:

1. Alignment with institutional teaching, research, and service needs.
2. Technical feasibility, cost‐effectiveness, and completeness of engineering drawings and Bill of Quantities
3. Potential for hands‐on skills transfer to students and technical staff
4. Realistic fabrication schedule with clear milestones and deliverable plans
5. Sustainability, maintenance strategy, and expected impact on local capacity building.

Important Notes

1. the budget must include cost of Patenting of Fabricated Equipment to be handled by the Directorate.

2. this grant is not for research purposes but for Fabrication only, which may be product of a past research.

Application Process

Stage 1: Research Proposal 

Submit a research proposal via the online form, including:

• Project title and abstract
• Objectives and methodology outline
• Expected impact and dissemination plan
• Technical Drawing and reasonable budget

Deadline for Proposal submissions: July 20, 2025

A review panel will score each application against the criteria above and invite successful applicants to Stage 2.

Stage 2: Full Proposal

• Invited applicants will prepare a full research proposal, expanding on your LOI.
• A shortlist of the highest-scoring proposals will be forwarded to TETFund for final funding decisions.

Ready to Apply
Please complete the Stage 1 Application form here:
[Click Here to Start the Application]

For queries or further clarification, contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to your groundbreaking proposals!