The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says it is ready to work with private businesses and investors to take advantage of research and tech-based opportunities in emerging markets, specifically the single continental market.
“One thing we need to do as a research institution is to develop the technology and work with the private sector to execute or market them; we don’t have to do everything otherwise we cannot focus but we can be part of the value chain,” Director of CSIR-Water Research Institute, Prof. Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana, told Single African Market in an interview.
In a discussion that focused on range of issues including the preparedness of Ghana’s scientific community to explore opportunities in the AfCFTA, he said the research institute will also lead the development of various technologies sometimes will lead to development of strategies and water-based research and products to grow the Ghanaian economy.
“The Ghanaian market is quite small; so, the opportunity to export things outside the borders of the country opens up the opportunity for businesses and other stuff to progress. And for us as research institutions, one of our major missions is to use science technology and innovation towards the creation of wealth for the development of the nation.”
According to Prof. Osei-Atweneboana, the institute is already undertaking various researches in water management for both human consumption and industrial purposes as well as provide scientific and technological information services, strategies for sustainable development and the utilization and management of the nation’s water resources.
“If we are able to develop our science technology innovation, we will be breaking the front in terms of moving our innovations from Ghana to other countries. I believe that other science and technology institutions will see the benefits of exploring of deploying science and technology in for wealth creation.
Prof. Osei-Atweneboana was also of the opinion that the country could harness opportunities in scientific research to create more businesses that can operate off the shores of Ghana.
He added: “We have used research to solve various problems but we need to look at using research for wealth creation. So, we need to study the markets: our local market and the African market, and see where the gaps are.
Once we are able to identify the gaps in the market, then we track back and look at the innovations that we need to develop to address them.”