Minister engages scientists on commercialization of research products

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has intensified engagements with institutes under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to push the agenda of commercializing research products.

Sector Minister, Dr. Oteng Adjei, says the 13 research institutes have the potential to be financially independent whilst supporting economic growth by putting commercial value to the output of research activities.

'We looking forward to them adding value to the raw material which will allow us to have food security and also be able to get money expand and also be able to make the scientists feel very comfortable', he told Luv Biz Report during a working visit CSIR-Crops Research Institute in Kumasi.

The CRI has over the years developed new technologies and come out with improved crop varieties with high economic benefits for the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

Director of the Institute, Dr. Hans Adu-Dapaah, has emphasized the importance of activating linkages between researchers, agriculturists and industrialists for the country to benefit from research products.

Inadequate funding for research however remains a challenge to the CRI, he said.

Dr. Adjei acknowledged the constraint but says 'the President has given us a line as to how legally we can give them a constant flow of income - at least it should be about one percent of GDP'.

He says the Ministry is also committed to supporting the Institute and others under the CSIR to efficiently communicate and commercialize research products to help create jobs and increase the country's food export earnings.

An agricultural economist with the CRI, Jonas Osei-Adu believes a team with commercial skills would need to be put in place to advance the cause.

'We already have the technology; let's find a very simple setting like a technology center, a one-stop shop whereby people can come in and access our technology. That will be the starting poring for our commercialization drive', he observed.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh