The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has expressed concern over the persisting gap between research institutions and the industrial sector, a disconnect that continues to stifle innovation and commercialization of homegrown solutions.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AGI, Seth Twum Akwaboah, says there is an inability of the country’s research institutions to translate their groundbreaking work into commercially viable products that address pressing industrial and societal challenges.
This situation still persists despite years of conferences and seminars on the subject of bridging the gap.
He, however, acknowledged the commendable efforts of research institutions, such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in developing innovative products despite limited resources.
Unfortunately, Seth Twum Akwaboah disclosed that many of these innovations remain on the shelves due to the lack of strong transition mechanisms for commercializing innovation.
This issue, according to the AGI, underscores the need for a deliberate strategy that fosters stronger industry-academia collaboration.
While Ghana’s research institutions continue to churn out new technologies, the absence of effective partnerships with private enterprises means that many of these solutions never make it to the market.
“Research institutions are doing pretty well but there’s still a big gap between what industry needs, the products that we need to solve our problems, and what they are able to research, and innovate. They are doing well in the sense that within their limited resource constraint, they are still able to come up with products and technologies. The challenge has been transitioning from developing the products, and the concepts into practical manufactured products,” Seth Twum Akwaboah told the media in Accra last week.
He added: “I know CSIR, we collaborate with them, and we’ve come up with some products that have been commercialized which is great but there are several ones that are still sitting on the shelves and we are unable to commercialize it and I guess it’s probably because of the weak link between industry and academia.”
Industry players argue that bridging this gap would not only drive industrial growth but also enhance local competitiveness, reduce import dependency, and create employment opportunities.
To this end, the AGI is advocating for increased government support, targeted funding mechanisms, and policies that encourage industry-led research and development (R&D) partnerships.
With Ghana aiming to build a robust industrial base, the AGI is calling on the authorities to walk the talk by implementing actionable measures that will address the disconnect between academia and industry.
The AGI believes that unlocking the full potential of research institutions will require an ecosystem where academic research aligns with industry needs, ensuring that innovation translates into tangible economic benefits.
