Knowledge Transfer Partnership Framework for Ghana
Authors:
| Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao | Dr. Enoch Bessah |
| Dr. Prince Odame | Mrs. Christiana Aggor |
| Mr. Isaac Sesi |
FarmSense Commercialization and Capacity Building Project
We establish the framework for implementing Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) in Ghana through the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF).
Drawing from international best practices, particularly the UK's successful KTP model which has generated over £2 billion in economic value since 2010, and building on local success stories like the FarmSense AI-IoT agricultural innovation, this policy provides a comprehensive roadmap for fostering research-industry collaboration.
The KTP program addresses critical gaps in Ghana's innovation ecosystem, including the disconnect between academic research and industry needs, limited commercialization of research outputs, and inadequate funding mechanisms for university-industry partnerships.
The policy proposes a tri-partite partnership model involving businesses, academic institutions, and highly qualified graduates (KTP Associates), with projects lasting 12-36 months and receiving 60-75% government funding support.
Key Strategic Objectives
- Accelerating technology transfer from academia to industry.
- Building innovation capacity in SMEs and large enterprises.
- Creating employment opportunities for graduates in strategic sectors.
- Strengthening Ghana's competitiveness in priority sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and renewable energy.
- Contributing to the achievement of Ghana's Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.
Implementation Roadmap
The implementation could be phased over three years, starting with pilot programs in agriculture and ICT sectors, expanding to other priority areas based on lessons learned.
Success will be measured through economic impact assessments, job creation metrics, innovation outputs, and long-term sustainability of partnerships.