Authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have expressed concern about the failure of industries in the country to actively fund research work in the university.
The Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, said among the core business of the university was effective research and findings that would enable industries to source for the requisite materials to sustain their operations
He said it was therefore important for “industry to partner departments and individual researchers and innovators for the development of research outputs”..
He pointed out that industries had however neglected the university in their research and findings over the years, making it difficult for the university to acquire the needed funds to initiate programmes that would impact positively on industrial development in the country.
Prof. Adarkwa made the remarks during the trade and technology fair (TRATECH) organised by students of the university .
The fair created a platform for the students to exhibit products of their handiwork as a way of marketing themselves to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industries to actively support the university with funding to enable them to carry out their mandate, Prof. Adarkwa noted “The university as an intellectually stimulating environment provides a fertile ground for research and innovation activities because we are blessed with the state of the art laboratories, workshops and studious “
The Vice Chancellor said in the world of today, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement and competition, amongst others , national development should necessarily hinge on creativity and innovations”
Prof. Adarkwa noted that, “ over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes, letting our research see the light of day, commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He said “ This problem culminated in the introduction of entrepreneurship as a compulsory subject for every student of the university, so that research outcomes and innovations can be commercialised”.
Prof. Adarkwa tasked the University Relations Office and the Web team “ to highlight all exhibitions on our website for the outside world to have a feel of our research and innovation activities”.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting the students, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, the students would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training attained into the development of industries of this nation”.
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