Accra, March 28, GNA – Ghanaian researchers and innovators have been tasked to commercialise their innovations and research works to support the country’s growth aspirations.
Ms Joan Selasie Ahiawordor, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), made the call during the ccommissioning of The Heritors Institute, an ultra-modern skills school at East Legon in Accra.
She said NEIP was ready to partner and equip domestic innovators and researchers with the relevant tools to enable them to contribute their quota to national development.
“The Government has strong confidence in local innovators and researchers and will ensure that existing gaps in the ecosystem are bridged to ensure they are able to commercialise their works,” she noted.
“NEIP recognises that innovation and entrepreneurship hoard great prospects for the country’s socio-economic growth and we believe that The Heritors Institute will empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to push this agenda,” she added.
The Heritors Institute seeks to elevate Africa to a leading position in global innovation through the nurturing of bold, interdisciplinary leaders who will harness science, technology, innovation and research to forge lasting solutions to the problems of the continent.
It was established by Heritors Labs, in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund and strategic ecosystem partners, to empower researchers and innovators with the requisite skills and tools to commercialise their innovations and research outputs.
Ms Derrydean Dadzie, the Chief Executive Officer of Heritors Labs, said the Institute would be a space where “ideas turn into inventions, research drives real solutions, and people gain the expertise to shape industries and economies.”
“Seeing The Heritors Institute (THI) and The Skills School (TSS) come to life is a full-circle moment for me. I have always believed that real progress happens when people have the right skills to build, create, and solve real problems. For us at Heritors Labs, this is about more than training -it is about building cross-generational prosperity in Africa.”
The Institute would offer courses in scientific and technology excellence, entrepreneurial innovation and commercialisation, design thinking and systems leadership.
Mr Kofi Ocloo, Vice President of Heritors Labs, said the establishment would help bridge the gap between research innovations and their application or commercialisation.
“We want to create an enabling environment where innovators are not just creating, but also protecting their innovation; an economy that will thrive on innovation and not mutation,” he noted.
“We want an economy that thrives on innovation and not imitation; we want to stop importing everyday consumables and start creating local solutions in the various sectors of the economy, including agriculture, health, and city planning.”
Mr Gameli Adzaho, the Country Technical Lead for RISA Fund, called for strong collaboration between the Institute and other stakeholders to advance innovations in science, technology and innovation in Ghana and across Africa.
He expressed optimism that the functions of the Institute, together with existing regional initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), would help position Africa as a competitive player in the global economy.
“By aligning with ecosystem players, The Heritors Institute can help innovators and entrepreneurs access broader markets, driving economic growth and problem-solving on a global scale,” he added.
GNA
ABD