Imperial College London has launched its first African hub in Accra, Ghana, that seeks to strengthen scientific collaboration and innovation in the region.
This move solidifies Imperial’s position as a leading global science, technology, and business university.
President Hugh Brady reiterated Imperial’s commitment as: “Our new Ghana Hub builds on strong foundations of collaboration, further strengthening and scaling up research and innovation partnerships in West Africa.”
The hub will support hundreds of academics and entrepreneurs in West Africa by strengthening collaboration on research, technology, education, and entrepreneurship between West Africa and the UK.
The Imperial-Schmidt AI Fellows Programme has been launched, supporting early-career researchers in AI applications. Additionally, the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)-Imperial Global Fellows Programme will focus on climate change and urbanization.
The hub will also provide enhanced enterprise support and capital access for commercial breakthroughs.
Stakeholders praised the initiative, with Hon. Ophelia Mensah-Hayford (MP), MESTI Minister, noting: “Ghana’s choice as Imperial’s hub demonstrates our renewed partnership with the British Government for Science, Technology, and Innovation.”
Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner to Ghana, added: “This epitomises strong education connections between the UK and Ghana.” Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, highlighted the hub’s potential: “Imperial’s hub can unlock Africa’s innovation potential, fuelling startup ecosystems and advancing Sustainable Development Goals.” Professor Majid Ezzati has been appointed Academic Director of Imperial Global Ghana.
