CSIR gets new Director of Commercialisation
THE commercialisation of works of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has received a boost as a new Director has been sworn in.
Naomi Owusu-Appiah has the task to oversee the generation of at least 30 per cent of the recurrent expenditure of the CSIR from commercial the commercialisation of its work.
The Directorate was reinstituted in 2021 after it was scrapped in 2015 for not meeting its task.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Act, 1996 (Act 521) tasked CSIR to generate 30 per cent of its recurrent expenditure, thus the need for the introduction of market principles.
The Directorate would, among others, market existing products of the CSIR, mobilise resources to increase production and create partnerships.
Commercialisation
At a ceremony organised in Accra, yesterday, the Director-General of CSIR, Professor Paul P. Bosu, described the coming into being of the directorare as a great feat for the CSIR as the directorate would support in the commercialisation of CSIR’s products such as oil palm seed nuts, coconut seedlings and prekese syrup.
He explained that the CSIR had a number of products and services and various stages of development that were not yet market ready and needed business strategies to push them onto the market.
Prof. Bosu expressed confidence in the ability of the new director, pledging his support to the directorate.
Meet target
Mrs Owusu-Appiah, who is a professional marketer and worked 22 years at the CSIR, thanked members of the Governing Council for entrusting CSIR's commercialisation drive to her leadership.
She said CSIR had made some significant progress with regard to commercial activities in areas such as the development of pozzolana cement, however, generating the targeted 30 per cent of recurrent expenditure had been challenging due to high utility cost, high cost of production, low production and processing capacity.
“As Director of Commercialisation my main goal will be to lead Corporate CSIR and all its 13 Institutes to work towards achieving the target, and if possible surpass it,” Mrs Owusu-Appiah said.
She announced four pillar to help attain her vision which included restructuring business operations of CSIR for a more robust implementation, Innovative business and marketing strategies, strategic funding options and use of capital and a strong team for efficient and profitable operations.
She expressed the build close collaboration between researchers, marketers, business team, starting from the concept generation to product development.
Mrs Owusu-Appiah said she would also seek partnership with private investors for the establishment of a company.
Acknowledging the challenge of acquiring adequate and sustainable financial resources for investment in business development in CSIR, she said would work with her team to proactively seek an audience with Institute directors for the establishment of a dedicated bank account for commercialisation activities.
“Anticipated sources of funds would include strategic alliance with the private sector through Public Private Partnerships, Project Grants from GSDF, GIZ and other funding organisations, CSIR Endowment Fund, SIR Provident and Superannuation Funds, among others,” she said.
She further expressed commitment to build a robust and ethically driven team dedicated to advancing the objectives of the directorate.
“I promise to strengthen a network of commercialisation staff across all 13 CSIR institutes with clearly defined roles, motivate and develop their capacity to ensure accountability and alignment with the directorate's goals,” she said.
Mrs Owusu-Appiah made a clarion call to directors, management and staff of CSIR, marketing and public relations officers, the business community, private sector, donors, and the government to fully support CSIR’s Commercialisation drive.
She also called for investment into their products and services that were market ready.