KNUST CALLS FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY (PAGE 18, MARCH 13, 2010)

Authorities of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have called for partnership between the university and industry to fund research that would enhance the country’s industrialisation drive.
According to the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, among the core business of the university was engaging in effective research and findings that would enable industries to source 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 industry 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 their handiwork as a way of exposing their potential to the public.
Expressing concern about the failure of industry 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 state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops and studios”.
On the fair, the vice chancellor said today’s world, characterised by constant innovations, product improvement, competition and national development, hinged on creativity and innovations.
Professor Adarkwa added, “over the years, one of our problems has been the link between industry and research outcomes. Letting our research see the light of day and commercialising our research and innovations into products and machines to solve the everyday problem of the Ghanaian has not been easy”
He further stressed, “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”.
Professor 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 Students Representative Council (SRC), Mr S.K. Oppong, said notwithstanding the numerous challenges affecting them, they were determined to initiate programmes that would support the country’s development agenda.
He said given the needed support, they would be able to “translate all the discoveries in research and training into the development of industries of this nation”.