Kosmos Innovation Center holds orientation for 6 new partnering universities and colleges

The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) recently welcomed six new universities and colleges, marking a significant milestone in its mission to foster innovation and youth entrepreneurship across Ghana. This brings the total number of tertiary institutions and colleges on the program to sixteen covering all regions of Ghana. Through KIC’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, KIC aims to provide young people across the country with training in agripreneurship for employment opportunities.

The orientation session, held at the KIC office Accra, brought together representatives from the newly onboarded universities namely C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences; Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development; Damongo Agricultural College; Kwadaso Agricultural College; Ejura Agric College and Mechanization Center and Ohawu Agricultural College, eager to explore the opportunities and resources offered by KIC to drive innovation-driven entrepreneurship among students and young people.

KIC has long been recognized as a catalyst for innovation in Ghana, leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to address critical challenges in agricultural and agri-adjacent sectors. By collaborating with universities and colleges, KIC aims to nurture the next generation of youth leaders within the agricultural sector empowering them to create sustainable solutions for local and global challenges.

During the orientation, participants were introduced to KIC’s flagship programs, including the AgriTech Challenge Classic, the AgriTech Challenge Pro, Business Incubation, Business Booster and AgriBiz Programs. These programs provide young people with training, coaching, mentorship, investor-readiness and access to funding support to develop and scale their innovative ideas. The participants in the orientation program were also introduced to the School Farm Competition, Young Agripreneur Forum and Women’s Bootcamp which helps to create mindset change about agriculture and helps young people to see career and employment opportunities within the agricultural sector.

Mrs. Terence Tienaah, Programs Manager at KIC, emphasized the importance of the collaboration in driving innovation and economic growth and opportunities for young people. “By partnering with universities, we are helping to provide entrepreneurial pathways for young people within the agricultural sector, ” she said.

The orientation also featured insights from participants currently on the KIC AgriTech programs and other KIC Businesses who shared their entrepreneurial journey and the impact of KIC’s support on their ventures. Their success stories served as inspiration for the new cohort of university partners, demonstrating the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving social and economic progress.

As the newest additions to the KIC family, the participating universities expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunity to engage with KIC’s ecosystem and contribute to Ghana’s innovation landscape. Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, they are poised to unleash the full potential of their students and drive positive change in their communities.

Looking ahead, Kosmos Innovation Center remains committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana, fostering a culture of youth agripreneurship for social transformation and impact.