The Research and Development (R&D) activities of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) involve conducting and supporting cutting edge research into emerging technologies that promote the better understanding of trends in the Telecommunications industry, and provide information/data to support the development of necessary strategies, standards and guidelines, and championing telecommunications-based innovations that provide life changing solutions to societal challenges.
To this end, the R&D Department of the NCC provides grants to support research by leading academics and researchers from Nigerian tertiary institutions, and holds regular competitions e.g. "Hackathons" open to technology hubs and Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDE) to stimulate innovation and development in the telecommunications and digital economy sector in Nigeria.