THE Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to undertake demand-driven research into industrial processes and development, transfer-proven technologies and provide consultancy services aimed at ensuring the growth of small and medium-scale industries.
The Director-General of the CSIR, Dr B. A. Salifu, signed for the council while the Chief Executive Officer of the Gratis Foundation, Mr Emmanuel Asiedu, signed on behalf of the foundation.
Under the terms of the MOU, Gratis and CSIR will undertake joint research and development for specified products and technologies of national relevance to support small and medium-scale enterprise modernisation and competitiveness.
The industrial sectors to be addressed using engineering and technology include agriculture and food processing, environment, health, water and sanitation, textile and chemical, education and Information Communication Technology (ICT),
The two institutions, depending on available equipment and human resources, are also expected to undertake the designing/manufacturing of the prototype of products.
The MOU also makes provision for the joint production of video documentaries of the institution’s products and technologies for documentation, information, marketing and dissemination.
It also empowers the two institutions to undertake technology transfer activities including training of students to address both local and international needs.
Under the agreement, the institutions are expected to sell or hire pilot plants and technologies and revenue from the royalty would be shared in agreed proportions of cost of inputs and extent of ownership.
It also authorises them to share information on research and development programmes, projects and outputs and allow either party access to the other’s facilities.
According to the MOU, the institutions would periodically mount exhibitions and fairs on existing products or new ones.
“Notwithstanding Article (3)(9) the services provided by any of the parties to this MOU in the form of logistics, human and/or material resources for the execution of a specific project shall be treated as a sub-contract and the party whose services was used shall be paid accordingly based on prior agreed terms”, it said.


Picture: The Chief Executive Officer of Gratis Foundation Mr Emmanuel Asiedu (left) exchanging the MOU with the Director General of CSIR Dr B.A. Salifu