reports and on university websites (Hinson et al. 2015). This lack of documentation
weakens the country’s capacity to measure its progress and has possibly contributed
to Ghana’s failure to be ranked in the 2017 Global Innovation Index
4 (Cornell
University et al. 2016, 2017, 2018) (Chap. 1 Vol. 1).
Using the University of Ghana (UG)
5 as a case study, this chapter explores the
current mechanisms used to foster partnerships for sustainability research between
the University and two key types of stakeholders, industry and government. Specifically, we aim to assess three key issues: (a) how the University carries out
sustainability-related research with industry, (b) how the industry engages with
UG researchers with regards to sustainability-related research areas and (c) how
both of these processes support national development policies and structures. In
particular, we employ an approach drawing from the Triple Helix model to understand the different structures and processes implemented by actors in academia,
industry and government to facilitate collaborative research, innovation and research
and development. We focus on (a) policies and regulatory frameworks;
(b) institutions promoting research (c) research funding and collaborative research.
Section 8.2 outlines the main aspects of the Triple Helix model. Section 8.3
identifies the aforementioned structures and processes for the University of Ghana
(Sect. 8.3.1), industry (Sect. 8.3.2) and government (Sect. 8.3.3). Section 8.4 puts
these findings into perspective identifying critical points across the three analytical
aspects (Sects. 8.4.1–8.4.4) and offers policy recommendations to enhance the
development and effectiveness of partnerships between universities and
non-academic institutions in Ghana and other parts of SSA (Sect. 8.4.5).
8.2 Methodology
This chapter adopts the Triple Helix model, developed by Etzkowitz and
Leydesdorff (1995), to conceptualize the linkages and collaboration between different actors in research and development related to sustainability. The Triple Helix
model assumes a collaborative relationship between academia, industry and government, where economic development is driven by the production and dissemination
of socially relevant knowledge. This model reflects several scholars who increasingly perceive universities (and their collaboration with the government and industry) as central for technological innovation to create wealth and build a knowledgebased society (Soini et al. 2018).
4 The Global Innovation Index measures the innovation performance of 127 economies for advances
in agriculture and food value chains (Ghana ranked 107 out of 126 countries in 2018, and 102 out of
128 countries in 2016) (Cornell University et al. 2016, 2017, 2018).
5 The University of Ghana is Ghana’s oldest university. It was founded as the University College of
the Gold Coast by Ordinance on 11 August 1948. Its mandate is to provide and promote university
education, learning and research. Its current vision is “to create a vibrant intellectual climate that
stimulates relevant cutting-edge research and community engagement” (UG 2017).
8 Strategic Partnerships Between Universities and Non-academic Institutions for. . .
249
weakens the country’s capacity to measure its progress and has possibly contributed
to Ghana’s failure to be ranked in the 2017 Global Innovation Index
4 (Cornell
University et al. 2016, 2017, 2018) (Chap. 1 Vol. 1).
Using the University of Ghana (UG)
5 as a case study, this chapter explores the
current mechanisms used to foster partnerships for sustainability research between
the University and two key types of stakeholders, industry and government. Specifically, we aim to assess three key issues: (a) how the University carries out
sustainability-related research with industry, (b) how the industry engages with
UG researchers with regards to sustainability-related research areas and (c) how
both of these processes support national development policies and structures. In
particular, we employ an approach drawing from the Triple Helix model to understand the different structures and processes implemented by actors in academia,
industry and government to facilitate collaborative research, innovation and research
and development. We focus on (a) policies and regulatory frameworks;
(b) institutions promoting research (c) research funding and collaborative research.
Section 8.2 outlines the main aspects of the Triple Helix model. Section 8.3
identifies the aforementioned structures and processes for the University of Ghana
(Sect. 8.3.1), industry (Sect. 8.3.2) and government (Sect. 8.3.3). Section 8.4 puts
these findings into perspective identifying critical points across the three analytical
aspects (Sects. 8.4.1–8.4.4) and offers policy recommendations to enhance the
development and effectiveness of partnerships between universities and
non-academic institutions in Ghana and other parts of SSA (Sect. 8.4.5).
8.2 Methodology
This chapter adopts the Triple Helix model, developed by Etzkowitz and
Leydesdorff (1995), to conceptualize the linkages and collaboration between different actors in research and development related to sustainability. The Triple Helix
model assumes a collaborative relationship between academia, industry and government, where economic development is driven by the production and dissemination
of socially relevant knowledge. This model reflects several scholars who increasingly perceive universities (and their collaboration with the government and industry) as central for technological innovation to create wealth and build a knowledgebased society (Soini et al. 2018).
4 The Global Innovation Index measures the innovation performance of 127 economies for advances
in agriculture and food value chains (Ghana ranked 107 out of 126 countries in 2018, and 102 out of
128 countries in 2016) (Cornell University et al. 2016, 2017, 2018).
5 The University of Ghana is Ghana’s oldest university. It was founded as the University College of
the Gold Coast by Ordinance on 11 August 1948. Its mandate is to provide and promote university
education, learning and research. Its current vision is “to create a vibrant intellectual climate that
stimulates relevant cutting-edge research and community engagement” (UG 2017).
8 Strategic Partnerships Between Universities and Non-academic Institutions for. . .
249