Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (middle), with other invited guests at the launch of BEST Forum
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) has launched the Biannual Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Forum on June 3, 2025, in Accra.
The BEST is meant to be a platform that connects academia, research institutions, industry, and investors to drive environmental innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of research.
Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, during the launch said that the BEST forum creates a conducive environment that will allow collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors and also allow for communication between different ministries, institutions and agencies.
“The fact that institutions and ministries do not talk to each other, so we are not just looking at coming out with this forum, it is an opportunity to create a platform where ministries and agencies can be communicating between and among themselves. We must strive to replicate the success stories. To do so, we need to foster an environment that fosters collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors,” he explained.
He also added that they are focused on making sure that research institutions are financially independent. Again, he said robust institutional and policy frameworks to promote research commercialisation, such as the creation of the Ghana Innovation and Research Commercialisation Centre has been established
“We are focused on creating platforms where the research institutions are independent financially. Dear Partners, as a ministry responsible for environment, science and technology, we are putting in a lot to build a robust institutional and policy framework to promote research commercialisation. We have created the Ghana Innovation and Research Commercialisation Centre (GRICC),” he explained.
He also highlighted what the GRICC is about, saying GRICC is expected to transform the Ghana innovation agency with the core mission to contribute to advancing innovation and sustainable development by supporting innovative research and commercialisation.
By Vera Owusu Sarpong