The Ghana Research and Industry Collaborative (GRIC) has reaffirmed its role as a national platform for innovation and research commercialization with the successful hosting of its 2025 Annual Forum at the British Council in Accra.
The event, held under the theme “Catalyzing Innovation through Partnership: Transforming Research into Scalable Solutions for Industry and Society,” convened over 150 stakeholders from academia, industry, government, civil society, and international development partners to explore strategies for turning research into market-ready solutions.
Amma Lartey, CEO of Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh), emphasized the urgency of translating research into commercial ventures that create jobs and drive value across Africa’s economies.
“It is only when we consciously tailor investment to commercializing research that real impact will be delivered,” she stated.
Prof. Ernest Ofori Asamoah, Chair of the GRIC Steering Committee, echoed this optimism, describing the Forum as a unifying space to shape Ghana’s innovation future. He urged stakeholders to maintain momentum.
“Together, we stand at the crossroads of innovation and unity, ready to shape a future defined by collaboration, purpose, and progress. This platform provides the space for researchers, businesses, and funders to engage, find solutions, and channel resources into scaling innovations. We must continue building this ecosystem together.”
Yaw Brako Osei-Tutu, Strategic Partnerships Manager at IIGh, noted the strong interest in linking academia and business.
He explained “There are a lot of opportunities for businesses, depending on their stage. Early ventures can benefit from enterprise support, while those ready to scale can leverage platforms like Deal Source Africa for funding and investor connections,”
A curated Mini-Exhibition featured prototypes and technologies from universities, startups, and innovation hubs. Participants explored products ranging from agribusiness processing innovations to new tech solutions, sparking partnerships for commercialization.
Entrepreneur Esther Johnson, CEO of Cyperus Enterprise, highlighted the importance of such exchanges
“Connecting industry and researchers is vital. I’m hoping that MSMEs will now be able to approach researchers directly and apply findings to improve their businesses,” she said.
The 2025 Forum concluded with a call to academia, industry leaders, funders, policymakers, and innovators to commit to collaborative action. Stakeholders are encouraged to join GRIC’s mission by visiting www.gricghana.org or contacting the Secretariat at info@gricghana.org.