Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act

What Is This Policy?

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act, 2023 (FIIR Act) is Nigeria's legislative framework to establish a dedicated national body for industrial research and development. The Institute is tasked with bridging the gap between scientific research and industrial application, transforming R&D outputs into market-ready technologies that drive rapid industrialisation and socio-economic development across micro, small, medium and large-scale industries in Nigeria.

Who Does It Target?

Micro, small, medium and large-scale industries in Nigeria seeking technology-based solutions Entrepreneurs and investors seeking techno-economic evaluations of technology-based enterprises Tertiary institutions and research bodies seeking collaborative R&D and training partnerships Public and private sector organisations requiring consultancy, quality control and industrial troubleshooting services Multinational companies and indigenous firms in joint venture and technology acquisition arrangements Food, agro-allied, pulp & paper, packaging and engineering industries

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Establish a body corporate with perpetual succession to conduct industrial research up to pilot plant level Develop and commercialise indigenous technologies in food, agro-allied, pulp & paper, packaging and equipment fabrication Accelerate Nigeria's industrialisation through applied R&D, technology transfer and techno-entrepreneurship programmes Ensure compliance with quality standards for foods and industrial products across Nigerian industries Foster joint ventures between multinationals and certified indigenous companies for technology acquisition Generate revenue for the Institute through consultancy, royalties, patents and commercialisation of innovations

Key Features

Current Status

Legal Status: Active, signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on 11th May, 2023; gazetted 30th June, 2023 as Act No. 36 Governance: Governed by a Governing Board chaired by a presidential appointee with expertise in global industrial R&D; Board meets at least four times per year Director-General: Appointed by the President on Ministerial recommendation; must hold 15+ years post-doctoral qualification in science/engineering; serves a 5-year term (renewable once) Zonal Reach: Six zonal offices to be established, one per geopolitical zone in addition to headquarters in Abuja and liaison office in Oshodi Spin-offs: Institute authorised to establish demonstration factories, spin-off companies and industrial parks; may also set up FIIR Consult as a semi-autonomous commercialisation body Financial Oversight: Annual estimates submitted to the Board and National Assembly by 30 September; audited accounts submitted by 30 June each financial year

How to Access

Industries & Manufacturers: Engage the Institute's technical consultancy and industrial troubleshooting services; contact zonal offices for region-specific support Researchers & Institutions: Collaborate on R&D programmes; apply for joint curricula development for techno-entrepreneurship diplomas Technology Investors: Engage FIIR for techno-economic evaluations; access spin-off companies and demonstration factories for technology licensing and joint ventures Patent & IP Holders: Collaborate with NOTAP through FIIR for commercialisation of research innovations and patent registration Contact: Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation | Abuja, Nigeria

Important Terms

Pilot Plant Research: Research conducted at scale between laboratory-level experiments and full industrial production bridging theoretical innovation and commercial manufacturing Techno-Economic Evaluation: Assessment of both technical feasibility and financial viability of technology-based business ventures to guide investor decisions Spin-Off Companies: Commercially oriented entities established by the Institute to exploit and market specific research and development innovations NOTAP: National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, the federal agency responsible for registering technology transfer agreements and patents in Nigeria Domestic Supply Obligation (Analogue): All R&D outputs of the Institute must be made accessible for industrial application in Nigeria as a primary mandate of the Institute

Impact & Metrics

Nigeria's industrial sector has long depended on imported technology. FIIR is designed to localise R&D and create a pipeline of indigenous industrial innovations The Act mandates national coverage through a six-zone structure, ensuring industrial research benefits all geopolitical regions By establishing demonstration factories and industrial parks, FIIR directly links research with production, providing hands-on training to students and skilled labour Income tax exemptions and private sector contribution deductibility create incentives for both public funding and philanthropic/corporate investment in industrial research

Official Resources

Ministry: Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation | scitech.gov.ng Act Reference: Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act, 2023 — Act No. 36, Official Gazette No. 118, Vol. 110, 30th June, 2023 Contact: Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIR), Abuja, Nigeria Summary prepared using the Policy Summary Template | Source: FIIR Establishment Act 2023, Official Gazette No. 118 | March 2026

Legal Framework

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act 2023 establishes FIIR under statute. It operates under the Science and Technology Act, the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007, and the Industrial Training Fund Act 2011. The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan provide the strategic framework. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act 2011 supports infrastructure development at the Institute.