By Edward Acquah
ACCRA, Oct. 15, GNA – Scientists and research institutions in Africa have been urged to make quantum science and research relatable and commercially viable to attract the investment needed to develop the emerging field on the continent.
The call was made at the second edition of the Research Dialogue Series organised by the African Institute of Excellent Research (AIER) in Accra on the topic: “The Role of Financing/Funding in Advancing Quantum Research and Innovation.”
The dialogue was moderated by Ms Priscilla Esinu Selase Lartsey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AIER.
Quantum science studies the behaviour and interactions of extremely small particles of matter and energy. Its applications are already supporting technologies such as computer chips, lasers, medical imaging, secure communications, and other technologies, with potential applications in agriculture, health, energy and finance.
Emeritus Professor Joseph Niemela, Scientist Emeritus at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), said increased investment in quantum science must go hand in hand with training and career development to build the human capacity needed to advance the field.
He said Africa could develop strong research programmes without necessarily requiring expensive equipment, citing an optics laboratory at the ICTP where researchers from developing countries conduct world-class research using relatively affordable equipment.
Prof. Niemela said the development of quantum science should focus on solving societal problems, noting that, “the most enduring legacy of any technological revolution is never the devices themselves, but the people it trains.”
He also called for greater public education on quantum science, saying users, investors, regulators and policymakers needed to understand the technology to participate meaningfully in its development.
Dr Henry Martin, a Mathematical and Computational Physicist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said quantum science had applications across virtually every sector because all materials were made up of tiny particles whose interactions could be studied and harnessed.
He called for increased investment in research and training to equip more African students with the skills to apply quantum principles to real-life problems.
Mr Festus Brew Quansah, Financial Analyst at the Nuclear Power Institute, said African countries needed to move beyond quantum research to building an industry around quantum science and technology.
He said governments, research institutions, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector should collaborate to develop startups, support industrial applications and commercialise research.
“You want to invest in a technology that has a market, that can be commercialized, that can generate the revenue and can generate the returns,” he said.
Mr Edward Acquah, Science Communicator and Editor at the Ghana News Agency, urged scientists to make quantum research relatable, local and relevant to ordinary people.
He said explaining how quantum science affected everyday technologies could make the subject more attractive to newsrooms and the public.
Season two of the Research Dialogue Series aimed at promoting scientific research for sustainable development. Season one of the series began this year in January and ended in June 2026, which was aimed at bridging scientific research and society.
This series seeks to promote scientific research for sustainable development.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Edward Acquah