CSIR to fund 30% recurring expenditure from commercialisation
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has appointed Mrs Naomi Owusu Appiah as the new Director of commercialisation with the mission to ensure that at least 30 per cent of CSIR’s recurring expenses are funded through the commercialisation of its activities.
At a ceremony in Accra on Friday, the Director-General of CSIR, Professor Paul Bosu, hailed the establishment of the directorate as a significant achievement for the organisation.
He emphasised that the directorate would play a crucial role in the commercialisation of CSIR’s products, including oil palm seed nuts, coconut seedlings, and prekese syrup.
Professor Bosu noted that CSIR has a range of products and services at various stages of development that were not yet ready for the market and required effective business strategies to advance them.
Again, he emphasised the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders, including directors, management and staff of the council urging them to actively support CSIR’s commercialisation initiatives.
This collective efforts, he believed, would enhance the impact of CSIR’s research and innovations, ultimately benefiting the economy and society as a whole.
Mrs Appiah, a seasoned marketer with 22 years of experience at CSIR, expressed her gratitude to the members of the Governing Council for placing the responsibility of CSIR’s commercialisation efforts in her hands.
She acknowledged that CSIR has made notable strides in commercial activities, particularly in the development of pozzolana cement.
However, she also pointed out that achieving the goal of generating 30 per cent of recurrent expenditure has proven difficult due to high utility costs, elevated production expenses, and low production levels.
“As the Director of commercialisation, my primary objective will be to guide Corporate CSIR and all 13 of its institutes in reaching, and ideally exceeding, our target, “stated Mrs Appiah.
To support her vision, she outlined four key pillars: restructuring CSIR’s business operations for more effective implementation, developing innovative business and marketing strategies, exploring strategic funding options and capital utilisation, and building a strong team to ensure efficient and profitable operations.
Moreover, she emphasised the importance of fostering close collaboration among researchers, marketers, and business teams, beginning with concepts generation and continuing through to product development.
Mrs Appiah also mentioned her intention to partner with private investors in order to improve the Internally Generate Fund (IGF) of the Council and the Country at large.
Recognising the challenges of securing sufficient and sustainable financial resources for business development within CSIR, she stated that she would work with her team to proactively engage with institute directors to address these issues.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
