15/09/2026
UPSA Enterprise and Innovation Centre Advances the Conversation on Turning Ideas into Scalable Ventures
On Friday, 11 September 2026, the UPSA Enterprise and Innovation Centre (UEIC) led a series of practical discussions and innovation focused sessions at the Engineering in Africa Conference 2026, hosted at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
The sessions centred on a question that matters to Africa’s development: How do we move from good ideas and working prototypes to solutions that can be produced, commercialised and scaled?
As part of the three day conference organised by the National Society of Black Engineers, Ghana (NSBE Ghana) in partnership with UPSA through UEIC, participants explored the systems, skills, partnerships and entrepreneurial thinking required to transform innovation into sustainable enterprises.
The programme opened with remarks from Dr Ernest Mensah Abraham, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies, followed by remarks from Mr Imoro Abdulai, Executive Director of NSBE Ghana.
Delivering the Catalyst Keynote, Ms Solace Kidisil, Vice President of the Financial Technology Services Group, examined the enabling systems and conditions needed to take innovative solutions beyond their initial settings and create wider impact.
A Spotlight Plenary Panel featuring Kwadwo Owusu Agyemang, Ato Ulzen Appiah and Melissa Nsiah further explored how entrepreneurs can build sustainable businesses that respond to Africa’s needs while creating opportunities for growth.
The conversations then moved from ideas to practical application through specialised Engineering Labs.
In the “Prototype to Plant” session, facilitated by William Afrifa Konadu and Samuel Sasu Adonteng, participants examined what it takes to move a working prototype into reliable commercial production. Discussions covered product stability, dependable suppliers, appropriate equipment, quality assurance, realistic costing and certification, the often overlooked steps between having an idea and building a viable enterprise.
The session also highlighted UEIC’s role in supporting students and founders through idea development, prototyping, industry engagement and mentorship.
The “Digital Infrastructure, AI and Industrial Automation” session, facilitated by Kelvin Saka and Abigail Dziedzorm Felitse, explored how emerging technologies can contribute to Africa’s industrial transformation.
Participants considered applications including predictive maintenance, quality control, energy efficiency and supply chain visibility, while examining how AI, automation and digital systems can improve productivity and safety while complementing human capabilities.
Through a practical case study on the digital transformation of a legacy manufacturing facility, participants worked through a phased approach, from digitising records and training staff to deploying sensors, strengthening connectivity and ultimately introducing predictive automation.
At its core, the programme encouraged participants to look beyond innovation for innovation’s sake and ask the harder questions: Does the solution work? Can it be produced? Can it be sustained? Can it reach the people who need it? And can it grow?
For UEIC, these questions are central to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem where university knowledge does not remain in the classroom, but is translated into solutions, enterprises, jobs and lasting impact.
Through its contribution to EiAC 2026, UEIC reaffirmed UPSA’s commitment to connecting education, engineering, entrepreneurship, technology and industry, and to equipping students and founders with the knowledge and practical understanding needed to turn promising ideas into solutions that can help shape Africa’s future.
From ideas to prototypes. From prototypes to production. From innovation to impact.
