The Place of Technology Based Incubators in Ghana’s Economic Development

Abstract

A persuasive argument can be made that economic development is the most important challenge facing the peoples of Africa and that Technology Based Incubators can play an important role in tackling that challenge. Despite the immense progress that has been made throughout the world in improving the quality of life through applications of technology, a large proportion of the peoples of Africa still live on less than $1.00 per day income. Progress in education, health, nutrition and environmental protection, although not nil, has been slow in African countries. This presentation will deal with the role that Technology Based Incubators can play in enhancing the quality of life in Africa and its place in Ghana’s economic development. The first part of the presentation will be a brief survey of recent advances in Technology Based Incubators with the potential for impacting the economic development of Ghana. The presentation will then proceed to outline specific applications of Technology Based Incubators and the contribution it has made to the economic development of some developed countries. Having made a case that Technology Based Incubators can be adapted to enhance Ghana’s economic development, attention will be turned to specific recommendations pertaining to the role of universities, governments and industries vis-à-vis that of the international scientific community in nurturing the appropriate atmosphere for Technology Based Incubators to thrive in Ghana. Questions of intellectual property protection will also be discussed.