National
Telecommunication
& Technology institute

Apply Now

Innovation Center

Innovation Center

NTTI Innovation Center and Excellence (NICE)

Centralizing Innovation, Driving Commercialization

The NTTI Innovation Center and Excellence (NICE) serves as the dedicated operational and governance body responsible for executing the comprehensive NTTI Research and Innovation Program (R&IP). NICE is the nation’s benchmark for research quality, technology assessment, and effective commercialization, acting as the critical link between scientific discovery and viable market solutions.

Vision

To be the preeminent national engine for technological transfer, translating publicly funded research into sustainable economic growth, competitive industries, and broad societal resilience.

Mission

To act as the nexus for innovation activities, ensuring quality control, adherence to global best practices, and effective commercialization across all NTTI-funded research initiatives. NICE is mandated to centralize, protect, and maximize the economic value of national intellectual property.

Core Functions and Value Propositions

NICE’s activities are grouped into four essential functions, ensuring end-to-end support for the innovation lifecycle:

1. Excellence and Standards (Function A)

NICE defines and enforces the high standards necessary to ensure national research is world-class, ethically sound, and strategically aligned with National Technology Priorities.

• Key Deliverables:
o Publish and enforce Technology Evaluation Guidelines and R&D quality benchmarks.
o Conduct rigorous External Peer Review and Audit processes for R&IP-funded projects.

2. IP Portfolio Management (Function B)

We manage the entire intellectual property lifecycle, from initial disclosure and protection to strategic licensing and commercial negotiation, maximizing returns on public investment.

• Key Deliverables:
o Maintain the National IP Registry and an associated licensing database.
o Provide specialized IP Legal Support and commercial negotiation expertise to researchers and institutions.

3. Incubation and Acceleration (Function C)

This function directly supports the successful transition of high-potential technologies (those reaching high Technology Readiness Levels, or TRLs) into viable commercial ventures and high-growth spin-offs.

• Key Deliverables:
o Run the NICE Technology Accelerator Program (a 6-12-month cohort-based support system).
o Provide physical and virtual Incubation Space with access to mentors, seed capital, and administrative services.

4. Policy and Advocacy (Function D)

NICE advises national leadership on critical innovation trends and necessary legislative reforms, shaping an ecosystem that encourages risk-taking and rapid technological deployment.

• Key Deliverables:
o Issue Annual Innovation Reports detailing performance metrics and economic impact analyses.
o Propose Regulatory Sandboxes for the safe testing and adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., digital health, advanced telecom infrastructure).

Organizational Structure

NICE operates under a flexible, accountable structure designed to separate strategic governance from operational execution:

• NICE Governing Board: Provides strategic oversight and approves the overall direction of the R&IP.
• Directorate of Technology Transfer (DTT): Focuses on commercialization (IP Management and Incubation).
• Directorate of Research Standards (DRS): Focuses on quality assurance (Excellence and Standards).
• Policy and Analytics Unit (PAU): Focuses on ecosystem intelligence (Policy and Advocacy).