The First International Conference on engineering, science, technology and entrepreneurship opened at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, on Thursday with a declaration by the Government to advance the cause of the nation through technology.

Mr. Mahama Ayarigah, the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, said his Ministry had already commenced discussions with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other research-based organizations to establish science parks across the nation.

The objective, he said, was to breed innovative and creative technological ideas borne out of research to address the nation’s development challenges in all sectors of the economy.

In addition, a new Bill to establish a Science and Technology Fund would soon be put before Parliament, and when passed into law the Fund would seek to support research and science innovations relevant for progress.

Mr. Ayarigah said the government’s new national development agenda focused on transforming the society through the application of science and technology.

It would, therefore, mobilize the needed resources to meeting its targets to alleviate poverty in improving the living conditions of the masses.

The Minister indicated that government had stepped up efforts to bringing together Ghanaian Engineers and Scientists living in the diaspora to enable them brainstorm and suggest new ways of charting the path for socio-economic development.

The two-day conference is being held on the theme “Promoting Creativity and Innovation through Engineering, Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship for Development”.

Agriculture and Food Security, Built Environment, Energy, Electronic and Cross-Cutting Issues, Water, Environment and Human Health are the thematic areas being discussed.

Professor Samuel Nii Odai, the KNUST Pro Vice-Chancellor, who chaired the opening session, said the University being one of the most reputable research institutions globally would continue to embark on activities that tend to transform the society for the better.

It had over the years been supportive of industries with its innovative programmes and ideas to engender growth.

Professor Odai urged the participants to take the conference seriously to effect transformation in respect of the socio-economic endeavours of the nation and Africa in general.