• Poor adherence to local content and local participation laws
8
• Absence of a legal framework to ensure that intellectual property rights (IPR) are
not forfeited by investors
• Multi-national companies’ use of imported research results for their application in
local factories
It has been proposed that collaboration between academia and industry should be
driven by appropriate policies in order to be mutually efficient and beneficial. IAST
employs various strategies to achieve this, mainly through organized events such as
exhibitions, symposia, workshops and seminars to enhance engagement and showcase technologies as well as support project-based research fundraising activities.
Outputs from these activities have indicated various opportunities that can be
explored to improve the engagement between academia and industry (Table 8.8).
8.3.3 Government Institutions
8.3.3.1 Policies and Regulatory Frameworks
The Government of Ghana prioritizes the further development of Research and
Development (R&D) or Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) initiatives for
addressing its SDG targets (Box 8.3). In 2017, the country finally adopted an STI
policy that could guide actors in the various economic sectors and prioritize investments. The revised National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
(2017–2020) highlights innovation in a new framework of actions and programmes
to apply science and technology towards achieving social and economic objectives.
The policy also provides sector-specific programmes and activities for agriculture,
health, education, environment, energy, trade, industry, natural resources, human
settlements and communications.
However, it is still unclear how tertiary institutions can contribute to achieving
these development plans or addressing the needs of industry, although their relevance has always been acknowledged in national plans. In fact, it has been suggested
that there is a need to develop and implement a comprehensive tertiary education
policy framework that is situated within the long-term development plan of the
country (Bawakyillenuo et al. 2013).
8 In the extractive industry, the local content law applies to a quantum or percentage of materials,
personnel, financing, goods and services that must be locally produced. Local participation laws
stipulate that foreign investors must partner with local companies at recommended share
percentages.
8 Strategic Partnerships Between Universities and Non-academic Institutions for. . .
261
8
• Absence of a legal framework to ensure that intellectual property rights (IPR) are
not forfeited by investors
• Multi-national companies’ use of imported research results for their application in
local factories
It has been proposed that collaboration between academia and industry should be
driven by appropriate policies in order to be mutually efficient and beneficial. IAST
employs various strategies to achieve this, mainly through organized events such as
exhibitions, symposia, workshops and seminars to enhance engagement and showcase technologies as well as support project-based research fundraising activities.
Outputs from these activities have indicated various opportunities that can be
explored to improve the engagement between academia and industry (Table 8.8).
8.3.3 Government Institutions
8.3.3.1 Policies and Regulatory Frameworks
The Government of Ghana prioritizes the further development of Research and
Development (R&D) or Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) initiatives for
addressing its SDG targets (Box 8.3). In 2017, the country finally adopted an STI
policy that could guide actors in the various economic sectors and prioritize investments. The revised National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
(2017–2020) highlights innovation in a new framework of actions and programmes
to apply science and technology towards achieving social and economic objectives.
The policy also provides sector-specific programmes and activities for agriculture,
health, education, environment, energy, trade, industry, natural resources, human
settlements and communications.
However, it is still unclear how tertiary institutions can contribute to achieving
these development plans or addressing the needs of industry, although their relevance has always been acknowledged in national plans. In fact, it has been suggested
that there is a need to develop and implement a comprehensive tertiary education
policy framework that is situated within the long-term development plan of the
country (Bawakyillenuo et al. 2013).
8 In the extractive industry, the local content law applies to a quantum or percentage of materials,
personnel, financing, goods and services that must be locally produced. Local participation laws
stipulate that foreign investors must partner with local companies at recommended share
percentages.
8 Strategic Partnerships Between Universities and Non-academic Institutions for. . .
261