Swisscontact Ghana and the Swiss Leading House for Africa (University of Basel Innovation Office) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in research, innovation, and ecosystem development between Switzerland and Ghana. The agreement, effective 15 February 2026, marks an important milestone in advancing research-driven solutions that address socio-economic challenges and unlock innovation potential across Ghana.
The partnership brings together Swisscontact’s extensive experience in private sector development and the Leading House for Africa’s mandate to foster academic collaboration and research partnerships between Switzerland and the African continent. Together, the two institutions aim to bridge the gap between applied research, commercialization, and sustainable development.
Under the MoU, both parties will collaborate closely to identify research themes, match Ghanaian and Swiss research institutions, and jointly develop concepts for donor-funded initiatives. Areas of focus include agroforestry transition, research-to-startup pipelines, research-to-industry partnerships, and innovations in impact measurement.
Swisscontact will support the implementation of Academia–Industry Training (AIT) programs in emerging sectors such as Cleantech and Artificial Intelligence, while the Leading House for Africa will explore vertical program development tailored to Ghana’s innovation ecosystem. Both parties also intend to facilitate reciprocal exchanges and explore new funding models for Ghanaian researchers and startups.
Through this collaboration, Swisscontact and the Leading House aim to expand linkages between academia, industry, and development actors, fostering an enabling environment where research findings translate into tangible and scalable solutions. The partnership will create avenues for Ghanaian institutions, researchers, and entrepreneurs to engage more deeply with Swiss counterparts through networking, training, and joint research initiatives.
In expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration, a representative from the Swiss Leading House for Africa stated:
“It is clear that there is a great potential for collaboration on research and research-based innovation between Switzerland and Ghana. We are very excited to sign an MoU with Swisscontact to support the Swiss Leading House Africa in making this a reality! We look forward to working with Rajiv, Monica and the team, and a growing group of collaborators in Ghana over the coming years.” - Innovation Program Manager, Swiss Leading House Africa
The MoU will remain in effect until 31 December 2028, with annual reviews to assess progress and refine cooperation strategies. Both parties are optimistic that the collaboration will catalyze new opportunities for innovation, expand academic-industry linkages, and contribute to sustainable development outcomes in Ghana.
As Swisscontact continues to work towards inclusive economic growth, and the Leading House for Africa advances academic partnerships across the continent, this new agreement sets the stage for impactful joint initiatives that will shape the future of research and innovation collaboration between Ghana and Switzerland.