DIPPER Lab engages Ghana National Research Fund on innovation-driven research
DIPPER Lab, KNUST has visited the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) in Accra to discuss collaboration and strategies to move research beyond academic outputs.
The engagement focused on how research institutions can shift from work that ends in publications to innovations that are visible, usable and impactful.
The engagement, forms part of DIPPER Lab’s stakeholder engagement activities under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships, which supports universities, colleges, and wider education stakeholders around the world to work together towards stronger, equitable, inclusive, and more internationally connected higher education, science, and TVET.
The two institutions discussed about innovation challenges that will bring universities together to showcase practical solutions and products, rather than focusing solely on publication-based competition.
Acting Administrator of the Ghana National Research Fund, Prof. Abigail Opoku Mensah, shared her experience during the launch of the FarmSense project and her tour of the DIPPER Lab last year.
She was “impressed by the innovations being developed and how they could be positioned for public use and national development”.
She further indicated that “ The Ghana National Research Fund will engage all its stakeholders, including the DIPPER Lab, in its activities that focus on scaling research to achieve sustainable national development.”
According to her, “research should not remain within academic spaces but must be visible and accessible to the public”.
Scientific Director of DIPPER Lab, Prof. Eric Tutu Tchao, said “the lab is ready to collaborate with the Fund to create platforms that allow universities to demonstrate their innovations”.
The DIPPER Lab delegation included Deputy Scientific Director Dr. Andrew Selasi Agbemenu, Child Health and Innovation Lead Dr. Prince Odame, and Climate, Environment and Ecosystem Services Monitoring Lead Dr. Enoch Bessah and Lab Administrator, Mrs Christiana Selorm Aggor.
Both institutions expressed commitment to strengthening collaboration to promote innovation-led research and increase the impact of university-based solutions.
