Kumasi, April 24, GNA- The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Kumasi. The MOU would cover a collaborative research in areas mutually beneficial to the two parties as well as putting research materials, documents and equipment at the disposal of each other.

It would also enable the NBSSI to engage the services of the staff of College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) of the KNUST, for presentation of lectures, seminars, conferences and colloquia of common interest.

The agreement, which would cover five years, would be reviewed based on evaluation and satisfactory performance by the Quality Assurance Unit of KNUST and Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the NBSSI.

Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST signed for the university while Dr Nana Baah Boakye, Executive Director of the NBSSI also initialled for the Board.

Pro. Adarkwa said a good relationship between the academia and the industry could impact positively on the Ghana's economy. He stated that the university would do everything possible to enhance productivity of industry especially the private sector which was the nation's engine of growth.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that an Incubation Centre was being established at the KNUST whereby project works of some final-year students would be supported and developed for further mass production. Nana Dr. Boakye challenged the universities to research into why some small-scale industries did not survive in the country and advised that lasting solutions should be found to problems. 24 April 07