Government Commitment to Innovation and Research Sam George Nartey, Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has emphasized the government’s belief in research and innovation as critical to economic growth and sustainable development. He reaffirmed the commitment to fostering an enabling environment where technological advancements can thrive.
Speaking at the second edition of the Africa Research and Innovation Commercialization Summit (ARICS 2025) held in Accra, he outlined plans for his ministry to transform innovative ideas into economic opportunities that drive job creation, empower the youth, and support sustainable development.
Impact Across Key Sectors The Minister highlighted the significant impact of innovation and research commercialization across various sectors, including education, where teachers are creating inventive teaching tools, as well as advancements in agriculture and health.
He described ARICS 2025 as a reflection of the government’s and private sector’s shared dedication to utilizing research and innovation for industrial transformation. He acknowledged that local innovators and researchers face challenges due to a lack of coordinated efforts and pledged government support to address these barriers.
Commendations and Collaboration Efforts Mr. Nartey praised Heritors Lab, RISA Fund, and other ecosystem contributors for advancing research commercialization in Ghana and Africa. He encouraged the private sector and policymakers to work together to unlock the full potential of local talent.
The summit, themed “From labs to market; upscaling industry uptake of research and innovation outcomes”, brought researchers, innovators, business leaders, and policymakers together to discuss strategies for translating research into broader economic benefits.
Connecting Research with Industry The CEO of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum Akwaboah, underscored the importance of connecting research, industry, and infrastructure to achieve shared development goals. He pointed out that while Africa produces significant research, turning these discoveries into market-ready products remains a challenge. He called for sustained collaboration between research institutions and private entities, alongside investments in technology infrastructure and policies supporting commercialization.
Realizing Potential of African Discoveries Heritors Labs Vice President, Kofi Ocloo, lamented the lack of commercialization of homegrown innovations. He stressed the need for stakeholders to transform African discoveries into solutions that can improve lives across the continent. The summit’s theme urged governments, industry leaders, and young innovators to bridge the gap between research and industry to drive sustainable economic growth.
Scaling Research Commercialization Gameli Adzaho, RISA Fund’s Country Technical Lead, emphasized the role of ARICS 2025 in scaling research commercialization efforts. He highlighted the importance of bringing together ecosystem players to identify strategies for advancing innovation to larger markets, while also empowering young researchers, addressing gender disparities, and involving rural communities in the innovation process.
