Novel research and innovative discoveries at the University of Ghana (UG) have the potential to be economically transformative. A seminar for research administrators organized by the Capacity Development and Research Performance Unit of Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) has highlighted the potential value of intellectual property at the University.

The Technology Transfer, Commercialization, and Intellectual Property (TTCIP) Unit at the Research and Innovation Directorate which is responsible for managing the University’s intellectual property and technology transfer activities, with specific emphasis on developing innovative mechanisms for the University’s engagement with industry, facilitated the programme.

The seminar held on Tuesday, 26th May 2026 at the RID office, was attended by research administrators to equip them to sensitize and support researchers to obtain maximum value from their inventions.

Mr Raymond Hope-Ankrah, Junior Research Development Officer (RID) presenting on behalf of his colleagues Mrs Diana Owusu Antwi (Head of Unit) and Mr Yaw Danso, provided an overview of the functions of the Unit. The process for securing Patents, Copyrights, Trademark and Trade Secrets, whilst exhaustive has the potential to accrue substantial gains if successful. The framework for IP ownership within the parameters of employee, visitor collaborator/partner and students was explained. Provisions ensure all parties are protected and attendant rewards are equitably distributed.

Central to TTCIP’s mandate is the protection of intellectual property, hence the team underscored the importance for researchers to engage with the unit before entering into research collaboration agreements or disclosing inventions at public fora prematurely.

In providing research support to faculty, research administrators are uniquely positioned to highlight and advice on steps to derive commercial value from intellectual property. Hence the seminar served as the basis to embark on a sensitization drive to educate the researchers and assist them through the internal and external process of obtaining patents, copy rights, IP registration among others.

Several examples of unprotected IP cited, highlight the importance of seeking early advice during negotiation of funding or collaboration agreements, to avoid the legal pitfalls of ownership, disclosure of trade secrets, etc. Citing examples of researchers losing the rights to original ideas due to unfavourable agreements, the team highlighted strategies for negotiating favourable terms with partner institution to derive mutual benefit from discoveries, material transfer and copy right etc.

Enumerating some challenges in IP administration, Mrs Owusu Antwi stated that recommendations made to university management could turn the tide on the absence of patents and copy rights.

The University maintains a share out policy for net royalties from commercialization as follows; Inventor 40%, UG 25%, Research Fund 15%, Researcher’s College & Constituent 10% and IP Fund 10%.

As the University of Ghana leads and participates in several consortia and research groups, this seminar is an important step to equip research administrators to sensitize researchers to obtain greater value from the novelty.

During an interactive discussion, some recommendations were made to bring IP issues to the forefront of research management eg. the Grants Management unit should include questions about inventions and novelties in standard forms applied to all funded research projects.

The clarion call to all stakeholders in research and innovation is to seek assistance