KNUST has opened a new chapter in its global research partnerships following a high-level engagement with Imperial College London through its Imperial Global Ghana initiative.
The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) hosted the visiting delegation marking an early substantive engagement aimed at building direct institutional collaboration between KNUST and Imperial. Central to the discussions was the proposed Imperial Ghana Hub, a platform designed to connect West African researchers with Imperial’s academic community to drive collaboration in research, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The Imperial delegation was led by Prof. Majid Ezzati, Academic Director, alongside Amma Boakye-Danquah, Associate Director. They were received by OGR staff led by Mrs. Eunice Adu Boahen, Head of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer.
Prof. Ezzati highlighted Imperial’s longstanding research ties in Ghana, particularly with the University of Ghana, while noting the relative gap in engagement with KNUST.
“Many of our academics have had collaborations in Ghana (mainly with the University of Ghana) for about 20 years, so we do have existing relationships. The Hub’s whole purpose is that we create new partnerships and relationships,” he said.
Discussions during the session focused on a shifting global research funding landscape, including increased pressure from funders to demonstrate value for money, as well as priority research areas for collaboration under the Ghana Hub. The delegation also outlined potential funding opportunities from Imperial and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting grantsmanship and the commercialization of research outcomes.
Amma Boakye-Danquah reiterated that the Ghana Hub is intended as a practical entry point for sustained collaboration between researchers in Ghana and Imperial, and researchers are free to reach out to her to matchmake or go directly to imperial researchers they would want to work with.
Mrs. Adu Boahen affirmed OGR’s institutional readiness to support and scale such partnerships across the university’s colleges.
“OGR is fully prepared to collaborate, provide strategic guidance, and create enabling structures that will ensure the success of joint research and innovation initiatives. We have six colleges at KNUST, with an OGR office in each, ensuring that we can connect collaborators to the right expertise across disciplines. Our doors are open, and we are ready to support.”
The meeting concluded with agreement to explore structured next steps, including identifying priority research areas and facilitating direct engagements between faculty at both institutions, positioning the Ghana Hub as a catalyst for deeper, long-term collaboration.