GIZ-PSInno Engages DIPPER Lab at KNUST on Scaling Science-to-Business
A delegation from the Private Sector and Innovation Promotion in Ghana (PSInno) programme has engaged the DIPPER Lab at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on advancing innovation and scaling science-to-business solutions within Ghana’s agribusiness and digital ecosystem.
The PSInno team, led by Agribusiness Team Lead, Elvis Mensah Bonsu, and Technical Advisor, Elipklim Sabblah, was taken through a number of ongoing projects at the lab focused on building digital solutions to help farmers make informed decisions and maximise crop yield.
The engagement forms part of efforts to explore how research-driven innovations can be translated into commercially viable solutions under the Science-to-Business agenda.
During the session, the team was introduced to key projects including FarmSense, SIWA, AgroTrace and FarmCred.
The Scientific Director of the DIPPER Lab, Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao, noted, “It is in our interest to ensure that all our projects succeed, especially FarmSense, SIWA and AgroTrace”.
Chief Executive Officer of Sesi Technologies, Mr. Isaac Sesi, provided an overview of the FarmSense device, explaining how it leverages real-time data to support precision agriculture.
The Climate and Ecosystem Monitoring Lead, Dr. Enoch Bessah, also presented SIWA, a smart indigenous weather application designed to improve access to climate information for local farmers.
Discussions during the visit explored the possibility of integrating the various solutions into a unified digital platform to enhance usability and impact across the agricultural sector.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Bonsu emphasised “the need to create pathways for research to move beyond the laboratory into practical use”.
Prof. Abdul Samed Muntaka, Senior Technical Advisor at CARISCA, KNUST, emphasized on the need for the developed solutions at the lab to improve the value chain, create value for farmers and also meet the objectives of the PSInno project
Also present at the engagement were, Dr. Andrew Selasi Agbemenu, Deputy Scientific Director of DIPPER Lab, Child Health and Innovation Lead, Dr. Prince Odame, Administrator and Mrs. Christiana Selorm Aggor
The engagement was followed by a courtesy call on the Provost of the College of Engineering at KNUST, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, and the Registrar of the College of Engineering, Dr. Paul Kwadwo Addo, where discussions were extended to strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and development partners.
The PSInno programme, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, focuses on strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting innovation, and creating employment, particularly within the agribusiness and digital economy sectors.
