Staff Reporter
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has announced the launch of its Doctoral ICT Research Grants programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening research capacity, promoting technological innovation, and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
The programme is designed to support registered doctoral students, academic staff, and post-doctoral researchers affiliated with accredited Zimbabwean universities, offering funding for research projects that address critical policy and technical challenges in the ICT sector.
In a statement, POTRAZ underscored the significance of the initiative in driving digital transformation.
“This initiative is designed to support registered doctoral students and academic staff at accredited universities in Zimbabwe, as well as post-doctoral researchers affiliated with an accredited academic institution in Zimbabwe, by funding impactful ICT policy and technical research projects,” the authority stated.
The research grants will focus on two key areas: Policy Research and Technical Research. Under the Policy Research cluster, researchers are expected to examine fundamental ICT sector issues and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers. POTRAZ highlighted several priority themes, including data protection and cyber security, universal access to postal and telecommunication services, and the regulation of emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications.
“Proposals under the policy research cluster will focus on the conduct of research on fundamental problems, to provide policymakers with pragmatic, action-oriented recommendations for alleviating the problem,” POTRAZ explained.
The Technical Research cluster, on the other hand, seeks to encourage academic research that leads to tangible solutions for real-world challenges in telecommunications. Researchers will explore frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and big data, with a strong emphasis on enhancing cyber security and data protection. “POTRAZ seeks to promote academic research targeted towards the development of tangible outputs that solve key challenges facing the ICT industry nowadays,” the authority noted.
To be eligible, applicants must be registered doctoral students, academic staff members, or post-doctoral researchers affiliated with an accredited institution in Zimbabwe. POTRAZ made it clear that researchers currently working on a POTRAZ-funded project will not be eligible to apply. Additionally, proposals must focus on new research initiatives rather than previously completed studies, and funding will not cover stipends, salaries, or retroactive costs.
Applicants must submit detailed proposals outlining their research objectives, methodology, and expected deliverables. POTRAZ emphasized that proposals should align with key research themes and demonstrate the potential for scalability. “Particular attention will be paid to ideas that have clear potential for scalability to drive ICT development,” the statement noted.
Proposals must be submitted via email to عنوان البريد الإلكتروني هذا محمي من روبوتات السبام. يجب عليك تفعيل الجافاسكربت لرؤيته. by April 4, 2025. A Review Committee will assess the applications, and successful candidates will be notified by April 18, 2025.
Through this initiative, POTRAZ aims to enhance Zimbabwe’s research capacity, promote technological innovation, and generate data-driven insights for policymaking and industry advancement. This programme represents a strategic investment in the nation’s digital future, supporting both academic growth and the development of cutting-edge solutions for the ICT sector.
